Introduction
The mission, vision, and values contribute to an organization’s ability to reach its desired end state by clearly stating the fundamental principals that will guide the firm’s actions and defines a clear set of values that encourages staff to work towards accomplishing the desired end state. The Alameda County Community Food Bank was chosen for completing a strategic plan. This paper will discuss the strategic plan for the Alameda Community Food Bank, components of the strategic management process that will be analyzed, and how the outcomes will affect the leadership and culture of the organization.
Background
The Alameda County Community Food Bank has been in existence helping people since 1985 and serves as the central clearinghouse for donated food in Alameda County (Alameda County Food Bank, 2007). The Food Bank provides assistance to the low-income, working poor adults, the elderly, people with disabilities, abuse survivors, people living with AIDS, and the homeless (Alameda County Food Bank, 2007). Assistance is provided through numerous community based organizations and conducts community education on topics of hunger and poverty.
Mission Statement
The Alameda County Community Food Bank aims to alleviate hunger and address its root causes in Alameda County through nutrition education and public policies while providing nutritious food to people in need and advocating for their rights to fresh healthy food.
The mission statement must be clearly defined to determine the basic goals and philosophies that will shape the Food Bank’s strategic position. The purpose that identifies the scope of its operations in product and market terms and sets it apart from other firms in the same industry is the company’s mission (Pearce & Robinson, 2004). The statement of the Food Bank’s intent encompasses the firm’s strategic decision makers, the image they want to project, the firm’s self concept, the principle product or service areas, and customer needs the firm will strive to satisfy (Pearce & Robinson, 2004).
Reaching the Desired End State
The mission, vision, and values for the Food Bank will help the organization in reaching its desired end state by ensuring that the planning process is focused and moving in the direction intended by the organization and it stakeholders. The mission statement provides a unifying purpose for the organization that sets a foundation for developing objectives, decision making, and encapsulates the organization’s business activity. By promoting a sense of shared expectations among all levels and projecting a sense of worth that can be assimilated by outside stakeholders, the mission statement can inspire the organization to reach its desired end state.
An article discussing the importance of a mission statement states that a mission statements’ job is to outline the organization’s unique purpose and establish the basis of its values and traits, as well as describe the attitude that is to be expected of those a part of the organization. Furthermore, this philosophical foundation sets the “tone” for physical actions, meaning that the content of the mission statement can determine the behavior of personnel (Hitt & Ireland, 1992).
A mission statement should define the organization, why they exist, who they are serving, and what products and services they offer (Aguinis, 2013). Aguinis (2013) includes eight components for a good mission statement. These components are products or services offered, customers being served, benefits to their products or services, technology being used, growth and profitability, managerial philosophy, public image, and self-concept of business by the employees and stockholders (Aguisis, 2013).
The mission of the agency is to “provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion, and education”. Volunteers were there to restock the shelves and bag the food for the clients. The staff duties consisted of interviewing clients and making sure the facility ran smoothly. Harvest Hope serves a diverse population residing within Lexington, West Columbia, and Cayce.
According to the “Hunger and Poverty Fact Sheet” on Feeding America’s website, in 2014 there were over 48 million Americans living in food insecure households, which included 32 million adults and 15 million children. For over 35 years, Feeding America continues to be in the forefront in solving this crisis by providing food to people in need through a nationwide network of food banks. In the late 1960s, Van Hengel established the nation’s first food bank and years later established the first national organization of food banks, Second Harvest. Second Harvest was later called America’s Second Harvest the Nation’s Food Bank Network and in 2008, the national organization changed its name to Feeding America.
The food bank specifically serves residents of the central and northeast Missouri counties who qualify for food assistance based on low income and additional factors. Those in need are able to receive the food that the food bank distributes through partner non-for-profit agencies. The food bank is located on Vandiver Drive in C...
In Ohio we do not have “on-site pantry that serves as an opportunity to help families in our community and explore strategies to build capacity throughout our network. However, the main responsibility of the Foodbank is as a liaison between the food industry and feeding programs. The Foodbank distributes food to more than 550 feeding programs, which then give it to hungry Ohioans.” (Mid-Ohio food bank) For this reason alone, this is why this solution will not solve homelessness or hunger in Ohio. If the Mid-Ohio food bank would have an on-site pantry that would serve different individuals or families it could help
The food pantry at Ruth’s Place, House of Hope can be found in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania or online at www.ruthsplace.org. The pantry is easily accessible by public transport, telephoning, or writing the director at her email. As the building that houses the food pantry is the home of a shelter for women experiencing homelessness, the pantry is open daily, around the clock. The pantry is open to all who are in need and demostrate need by meeting basic criteria and uses nutritional education to enhance users overall qusality of life.
The goal of the Salvation Army is, “Serving the most people, meeting the most needs, doing the most good” (Salvation Army). The Salvation Army offers numerous programs for those in need, such as social services. Food pantries, soup kitchens, and other meal programs are a few of the services offered. Available year round, these programs are held at multiple locations throughout the United States. Lock Haven’s Salvation Army has a food pantry available on Wednesdays and a hot lunch program called More Than Bread Monday through Thursday (Salvation Army). All donations given to the Salvation Army are received from businesses and individuals in the community.
..., John E., Strickland, A.J. Thompson, Arthur “Whole Foods Market In 2006: Mission, Core Values, and Strategy”, Crafting & Executing Strategy 15th Ed., McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2007
I also recently volunteered at the Cleveland Food Bank by packing lunches for under privileged children and sorting non-perishable foods for those in need. Prior to participating in volunteer services for the day, we were required to watch a video that explains the purpose of the Cleveland Food Bank and why there is a need for continuous support. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank works to ensure that everyone in our communities has the nutritious food they need every day. The mission of the Cleveland Food Bank is to alleviate hunger by providing food and support to community organizations that feed the hungry. Many people depend on the support because of their financial situation, life changes, and possible mental or physical limitations. The Food Bank acts as a storage unit and distribution facility for smaller agencies and organizations such as schools, homeless shelters, churches, and day
The Guelph Food Bank, is an essential organization in Guelph. The purpose of the food bank is to provide food to the less fortunate. With an unpredictable economy, many people are living paycheque to paycheque, trying to survive on little income. Due to the high costs of rent, not all people are able to purchase groceries and rely on the food bank to provide them with the essentials. The Guelph food bank also serves people who are unemployed as well as people who are living with illnesses. Welfare cheques simply do not provide enough to cover all the expenses that an average person has to deal with. Therefore, the Guelph foodbank’s mission is to not only provide food to the unemployed but to also help people who do not have enough money to purchase food. It not only wants to help people short term, but its goal to help people in the long term by helping them become independent of organizations.
Giving to others through humanitarian projects is not only inclusive of providing monetary solutions for food. Philosophies and intention to reach specific goals are also associated with the needs of others. The Hunger Project is designed with the central goal of eradicating poverty. However, it is found that this is not done only by feeding the poor, but instead through empowerment initiatives that allow others to change their lives. When looking at the approach used to The Hunger Project, it can be seen that the ability to provide empowerment to others will assist in changing lives through donations. The impact which is made by making a donation creates an initiative not only through the power of changing lives of those in need. It also alters the socio political landscape and the global society at large. This impact is one which can redefine the overall functions in the globe, specifically by eradicating poverty.
Being a rural community we have no form of public transportation. For those who are homeless having no transportation to get to services keeps them from utilizing services such as the food banks. Another issue that arises is even when homeless individual make it to the food banks they have no way of carrying or storing the food. A good portion of the food is perishable so that takes away much of the food that is provided. Another issue is that many of the homeless individuals have mental health issues and many abuse alcohol or drugs. These two things coupled together makes it hard on the homeless individuals to coherently decide to go to the food banks when they are open. Another issue with my community is that we have no homeless shelter. The summers here are very hot and the winters are very cold. The only shelters that the homeless in my community have are tents if they are lucky enough to own
The strategic process that UNICEF, like any other organization, goes through, starts with a mission statement continues through its goals, internal and external analysis and implementation and results in a competitive advantage in the marketplace they operate in (Yates, 2012).
The statement of a mission encourages one to progress to succession. A mission statement involves strategic planning in ...