Award-Winning Website Puts a Face on Hunger

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.— DECEMBER 12, 2007: Each year, First Net Impressions contributes to the community by redesigning a Web site for local company with a good cause, but limited funds. Last year's recipient was the Feed My People Food Bank (FMP), which raises money to feed hungry people in the Eau Claire area and 14 surrounding counties. Recently, the FMP Web site received an award from the Dynamic Graphics Redesign Contest.

To help FMP raise money, First Net Impressions believes that the community needs to understand and empathize with the plight of the hungry - and know what the food bank is doing to combat it.

"The Web site had to show need, and compel people to give," said designer Beth Meierstein of First Net Impressions. "To convey need, the design has a serious tone, striking facts, and photos that show the emotion of hunger. Our community needs to realize that people all over Wisconsin go hungry, not just in the big cities."

There are 39,714 people living in the 14 counties the food bank serves who live in poverty, and 23,828 of them are children or elderly. The food bank serves 10,000 of them a month-- not even half.

"So many people think that 'the poor just don't try hard enough' or 'they could change it if they wanted to.' This simply is not true," says Meierstein. "The vast majority of those that go hungry are children and the elderly, and of those that are able-bodied adults, most do have jobs."

"The Web site shows visitors how far a dollar can go. For every dollar contributed, the food bank can turn it into $10 worth of food," says Emily Moore, Director of FMP. "Hopefully this website will show the extent of what is needed, as well as the progress that has been made."

Each year the food bank helps food reach more and more people who need it. Last year, the food bank distributed almost five times the amount of food it did four years ago. "The growth is phenomenal," says Meierstein. "We want people to be excited to be a part of it."

First Net Impressions is a professional design firm focused on helping business achieve an effective Internet presence and develop a cohesive identity system. Professional services include electronic and printed media, web hosting, email, search engine optimization, and business card CDs. Founded in 1997, First Net Impressions is one of the most experienced web design companies in the Eau Claire area with over 200 designs displayed in our portfolio.