Hello Friend!

It's been a great month of celebrations: Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, Presidents Day and we very much enjoyed gathering with everyone at the Harvesting Justice brunch fundraiser just a couple weeks ago. We welcome the longer days with a spring in our step and look forward to new changes inside and out with our new office manager, Vicky Green, and new board members: Scott Atthowe, Mia Birdsong, Evette Brandon and Rene Cage. Welcome to the People's Grocery Family!

A Letter from Our Executive Director Hello everyone, I'm approaching two months in my role as Executive Director of People's Grocery, and it's been wonderful! I feel incredibly lucky to have such a supportive board, passionate staff and engaged local community. There are so many spaces in which I'm feeling the love: every person who welcomed me at Harvesting Justice, every person who sent me a quick card or email of congratulations, every smile I see from a Grub Box participant. It's all so appreciated, and it reminds me of why eating a meal together is one of the most profound acts of social justice. There are many exciting happenings in the air: First Lady Michelle Obama debuted her "Let's Move" initiative for childhood obesity, and Will Allen joined the stage to speak about food, and the need to grow healthy food close to the people who need it. Our messages are having an impact. The time for a local, sustainable food system is much closer than we think. Remember that this month when you think of our mutual goals, if you ever need a reminder of hope. We're in this together. Thank you for being a part of the People's Grocery family. Nikki Henderson

Welcome New Board Member K. Evette Brandon Our new Board Member, K. Evette Brandon has worked with a number of community-based organizations and public agencies with an explicit commitment to eliminating economic injustice, health disparities, sexism and racism. She has worked with the Community Health Academy, The Center for Third World Organizing, The Applied Research Center, Girls After School Academy, the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT), Youth UpRising, and the Alameda County Public Health Department. A grassroots fundraiser by trade, Ms. Brandon has also served as a Board member with GIFT, The Todos Institute, Conciliation Forms of Oakland, and the Alumnae Association of Mills College. Ms. Brandon received her Master in Public Health from San Jose State University. We're honored to have Evette as part of our board and look forward to her energy and enthusiam! Read about the People of People's Grocery

What's New? Our 2010 Video, Facebook Fan page and more! If you didn't see it at Harvesting Justice, you can take a look at our new People's Grocery 2010 Video on YouTube created by Issa Diao. Click the link below to check it out and let us know what you think about it by leaving a comment. We have a new Facebook Fan Page built by super volunteer, Craig Markey! See who else is a Fan of People's Grocery and stay current on upcoming events. Go to "http://www.facebook.com/PeoplesGrocery.org" and be our fan. We've also got a new fax number (510) 658-3208. Our phone number is still the same (510) 652-7607. Thanks to Issa, Craig and to all our Facebook friends. Our new video

Harvesting Justice 2010 People’s Grocery would like to thank all of our supporters who came to Harvesting Justice on January 30, 2010. Over 400 people attended raising over $70,000 for our work. Thank you to our speakers: Nikki Henderson, Brahm Ahmadi, & Malaika Bishop; our MC Geralina Fortier, and our many wonderful table captains. We would like to send a special thank you to our caterer, Marc Swan of Local Flavors catering and our supporters who provided entertainment for the guests; Grupo Aquacero, Destiny Arts Center, and Nubia Sutton. Without our passionate volunteers, the event would not have been possible – our volunteers helped cook, serve food, set-up, clean-up, and provide childcare for all our supporters. We truly felt so much love on that day and are excited about all the new contacts we will work with in the future. If you would like to work on this or other People’s Grocery events in the future, please contact Nisha Anand at Nisha@peoplesgrocery.org

Grub Box at Highland Hospital Read about the Grub Box and nurse Michele Bunker-Albers at Highland Hospital. She and Dr. Rob Savio wanted their co-workers to eat healthier food so Highland Hospital partnered with People's Grocery to become one of the distribution sites where staff can pick up Grub Boxes to take home. They even have "cook-offs" where doctors make a meal out of the contents of the Grub Box for staff to eat. If you'd like your workplace to become a Grub Box distribution site, contact "Diana@peoplesgrocery.org". Article about Grub Box and Highland Hospital

Get adjusted and support "Food Justice" Dr. Naruishi and Hikari Chiropractic in Berkeley has generously extended a special offer of health and wellness to the People's Grocery community. For only $80, you will receive two private appointments with Dr. Koichi Naruishi, which include an evaluation, consultation, and adjustment. In addition, you will be contributing half of your proceeds ($40) to support community building programs of People's Grocery. Call 510-428-2332 to schedule your appointment today. Offer expires Feb. 28, 2010. Thank you to Dr. Naruishi for this holistic opportunity to support People's Grocery.

Thank you for reading and being involved with People's Grocery. Please forward this to your network.

~Victoria Fabella and the staff at People's Grocery