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Fighting hunger on college campuses

March 6, 2019 By Jenny

You can’t learn when you are hungry, which is why we have programs that specifically focus on providing food for school-aged children. But what about the people seeking higher education? Almost half of local college students struggle to afford food due to the increasing costs of housing, tuition, and books. The Food Bank partners with local colleges to help combat this nationwide problem through our College Pantry Program.

Last month we started new partnerships with St. Mary’s College and CSU Maritime Academy. We are happy to be able to help serve the students at these new pantries as well as at existing pantries on the campuses of CSU East Bay-Concord, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College and Contra Costa College.

Each college pantry operates with a staff member and many generous student volunteers. Most are open 5-days a week and enrolled students with a school ID can pick up free groceries at these little mini-markets. Students are able to pick out what food they want according to their personal dietary restrictions or food preferences.

Shelf-stable foods available include pasta, fruits, vegetables, soups, beans, and rice. The pantries that have refrigeration are able to offer eggs, milk and juice. A couple of the pantries have freezers, so they are able to distribute meat as well.

Each pantry is in charge of spreading the word on their campus. In addition to traditional flyers and newsletters, they often reach out to the masses via social media. Sometimes pantry representatives will speak directly to the students at the beginning of classes to ensure everyone knows about help is available.

Antoinette whose work-study job is at the food pantry on the CSU East Bay-Concord campus tells her fellow students, “Don’t feel ashamed to come in, we don’t want you to be hungry. Some students have whispered to me, ‘I have been hungry’–they always say it in a whisper.”

James Lande, the Food Bank’s College Pantry Coordinator, provides ongoing support to all the college pantries from daily operations and marketing to outreach and grant writing. In turn, these pantries are better able to serve students in need. James shares, “Pantry Coordinators tell me since starting a pantry on campus and working with the Food Bank, they have been able to greatly expand their presence on campus and improve the variety and nutritional options available. All of the college pantry partners have expanded their hours since opening.”

A recent Government Accountability Office report revealed the extent of college hunger, and schools have not only stepped up by opening pantries on campus, but they also welcome help promoting agencies and outside programs that can benefit their students. To aid with this effort, the Food Bank works with campuses and students to educate them on CalFresh. Many students don’t realize they qualify for this government assistance. A Community Relations Officer at Cal State East Bay explains it to students like this, “You get financial aid, now let’s get your food aid.” We also connect colleges in Contra Costa County with Contra Costa Health Services. They support the colleges by providing nutrition education materials and have even done cooking demonstrations on a few of the campuses.

We are inspired by these colleges who are not only discussing the issue of student hunger but are taking action as well. We will continue to expand this program to other campuses and we are even looking into partnering with local adult schools. We are committed to being there for those who are pursuing their education today, so they can better provide for themselves and their families tomorrow.

Your support is helping fire victims

September 11, 2018 By Jenny

The Food Bank’s efforts to help during Northern California’s unprecedented fire season have been ongoing. The unpredictable nature of fire means things change quickly, but we have a team helping whenever and wherever we can be of assistance.

In case you missed our prior updates, you can catch up by checking our Facebook posts on August 9, August 24 and August 31. Though the CARR fire is finally 100% contained, the devastation remains and many residents remain displaced. One of our staff members deployed to the area reported back that “people are tired–VERY TIRED, the air is bad and smells of toxic chemicals.” She explained that even though the conditions are really hard–with an almost unbearable combination of heat and poor air quality–people are so very thankful that we are there for them.

Early on, we sent CalFresh outreach workers to the Redding area to help people affected by the fires apply for Disaster CalFresh. This federal program helps victims meet the temporary nutritional needs within a 30-day period following a natural disaster. Many of the people we met with were initially unclear about the benefits and assumed that they would not qualify because they aren’t eligible for traditional CalFresh. After we dispelled myths and clarified half-truths, people were surprised and relieved at the potential for benefits. Many spoke of complete loss and while CalFresh won’t replace everything in their refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, they were grateful for our outreach assistance.

Moving forward, here’s the latest update on our fire relief efforts:

Late last week it was decided that we’d continue weekly food distributions to Dignity Health Connected Living agencies through October to assist in the CARR fire recovery AND continue weekly food distributions to two low-income schools in Shasta County.
- We are receiving, processing and transporting emergency boxes from Feeding America, as well as donations of cereal and shelf-stable groceries from Kellogg’s and C&S Wholesale Grocers.
- We are donating and sending produce to the affected area.
We are continuing to send staff to oversee these distributions in Redding.
We are also communicating with agencies serving the Shasta and Siskiyou counties to see how we can help with the Delta fire AND with officials in Napa County to offer aid with the Snell Fire.

It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together for a common goal. Whether it’s fighting chronic hunger, or responding to a natural disaster, the Food Bank is prepared to help our neighbors get the food they need.

Students serving students

August 2, 2018 By Jenny

Before the Fairfield Police Activity League (PAL), a community service club, opened the doors to their food pantry three years ago, area middle school and high school students experienced hunger long after the last class bell rang. Thanks to the dedication of students wanting to be a part of the solution and financial donations from supporters like you, this “for students by students” pantry is changing lives.

On the 2^nd and 4^th Friday of the month, the PAL student volunteers open their pantry to students and their families. The volunteers are in charge of marketing, stocking the pantry, and conducting food demos using recipes they hand out. (See their latest recipe below.) The students and families are encouraged to try new things with the taste tests and the demos–but ultimately they may take what they want.

Coming to the pantry is a way for students to help their families relieve some of the stress that comes with not having enough money or food to eat. As each student takes their one or two bags of groceries, they are often heard talking about how they “like helping their moms out” because they realize mom can then spend money on other basic unmet needs.

Heather Sanderson, the PAL Coordinator and staff member shared with us, “The pantry is a nonjudgmental way for the students to get food. It is better that it is ran by young people so they feel safe. The students try hard to make sure that any local student who might need items, knows that it is here –and feels welcome to visit.”

The student volunteers believe that without the food pantry, there would be more kids getting in trouble. Nazjha, a volunteer and high school senior, explained, “You’re not yourself when you’re hungry. It’s tough to make decisions.” And Chloe, a newer volunteer and freshman, added, “When you’re hungry, it’s like a whole other person is controlling you.”

When asked what they’d like to say to the Food Bank supporters, the student volunteers collectively offered, “We thank them and appreciate them and don’t know what it would be like without the food pantry.”

The Fairfield PAL pantry is looking for more student volunteers to do marketing and food demos. Students can earn hours for school or other programs–but most just do it to give back and strengthen our community. To inquire about the volunteer position(s) or for more information about the program, please contact Heather at [email protected].

Get the PAL recipe for 2 Ingredient Dole Whip.

Farm 2 Kids helps fill the summer nutrition gap

July 9, 2018 By Jenny

It’s easy to take fresh summer fruit for granted. Many of us go to the grocery store or farmers’ market and place our seasonal favorites into the basket without giving it much thought. This is not everybody’s reality, which is why the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano works hard to provide healthy food to our community members daily.

Farm 2 Kids is one way the Food Bank gets fresh food into the hands of people who need it the most. Children attending after-school programs within low-income schools are given 3-5 pounds of fruits and veggies weekly to share with their families. Farm 2 Kids continues to operate at after-school programs that are still in session even when school is out.

Thousands of children who receive free or discounted meals through their schools are at risk of going without food during the summer. To extend the reach of Farms 2 Kids during this vulnerable time, the Food Bank gives out fresh produce at schools, public libraries and community centers where the federal Summer Lunch Program is available.

Not only does this program nourish their growing bodies, but it allows children to try foods they couldn’t otherwise afford. A little girl in Fairfield told us they had never actually eaten a fresh pear before. She had only tasted canned pears and did not recognize the fruit in its natural form. We also learned of a boy at a Farm 2 Kids site in Vacaville who had only tasted a fresh nectarine once in their lifetime. His parents were not able to afford the sweet delicacy and they were all surprised and delighted when they received a bag FULL of nectarines.

You can make a difference to the children in our community by volunteering to bag produce in our Fairfield warehouse or making a financial gift to the Food Bank. Your investment in the development of our future generation will have a lasting effect on our society.

For many seniors the monthly decision is food or…

May 15, 2018 By Guest

“I always felt there were other people that need it more than me… but after I had gone three days without eating, I was so hungry.” – Mary age 90 on why she applied for CalFresh

For 74 year-old Theresa of Antioch, her retirement years are anything but golden. Theresa shares, “I thought my older years would be easy. Instead of easy, I’m not making it.” Theresa is not unique. For a growing number of seniors, that is the reality. In fact, 1 in 11 seniors in California may have to choose between paying rent, filling prescriptions or purchasing food. CalFresh, a state-run nutrition assistance program, could be the answer for many limited-income seniors. CalFresh benefits are automatically loaded onto a debit-like card that can be discreetly used at most grocery stores, neighborhood stores and farmers’ markets.

Despite being one of the most effective solutions to hunger, the majority of seniors who are eligible do not use CalFresh. Why? Because of some persistent myths seniors believe about the program.

MYTH: “Other people need CalFresh more than I do.”
FACT: There are enough CalFresh benefits available to everyone meeting the eligibility requirements. There is no need for qualifying seniors go without.

MYTH: “It’s too hard to apply for CalFresh.”
FACT: Friendly Food Bank staff help seniors find out if they may be eligible. They can provide further assistance by mailing out applications or helping apply over the phone or online.

MYTH: “I own my house, so I won’t qualify.”
FACT: Seniors can have savings, a house and cars and still receive CalFresh.

The Food Bank is letting seniors know about the help CalFresh can bring, because no one should have to choose between buying food or filling a prescription.

To learn more about this important program, visit foodbankccs.org/seniorcalfresh.

You help us purchase healthy food

February 26, 2018 By Jenny

The decisions you make while buying food for your family are the same ones our Purchasing Manager, Veronica, makes on behalf of the people served by the Food Bank. Like most of us, she too has to balance cost and convenience with nutrition and taste.

Veronica purchases about 10% of the total food we give out. The perishable and nonperishable items she buys supplement the donations we receive to keep up with demand. The food is purchased with financial donations from our supporters like you.

With a master’s degree in Health Education and Holistic Nutrition, Veronica takes the time to read labels. She pays special attention to added sugar and salt content and isn’t tricked by unrealistic serving sizes. When a vendor approaches her about purchasing a new item, her response is always, “Send me the label…with both the nutrition facts AND the ingredient list.” She knows that food manufacturers will often add unhealthy ingredients to make up for poor quality and taste.

When asked what item she is most proud that we distribute, she answers, “Eggs. They provide a big nutritional bang for your buck. If you don’t have a sensitivity to eggs, they are a great source of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.”

Shelf-stable items she purchases include bagged beans, brown rice, lentils, whole wheat pasta, low-sodium or sodium-free canned goods, and canned fruit in 100% juice.

Although March is National Nutrition Month, we value the importance of good nutrition year round. Our goal is to not just feed the 182,000 people who turn to us each month; we want to nourish them.

In 2016, you helped us accomplish a lot!

January 24, 2017 By Rachel

YOU HELPED THE FOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO PROVIDE

20 MILLION POUNDS

– TO –

190,000 NEIGHBORS

YOU HELPED FAMILIES

“I work, but supporting three children on my own is difficult. With the produce we get from the Food Bank, I am able to cook healthy meals for my children. Now I know that when they go

to bed, their tummies are full.”

-Wanda from Antioch

YOUR ACTIONS

MADE A DIFFERENCE

TOOK ACTION BECAUSE OUR NETWORK ENCOURAGED THEM TO SUPPORT
PUBLIC POLICIES THAT FURTHER THE FOOD BANK’S MISSION TO END HUNGER.

THANK YOU

We made great progress in 2016, but our work isn’t done yet. We still need your help to make sure everyone who needs a meal has access to one.

We look forward to building a stronger, healthier community with you in 2017.

Fruits, Vegetables More Than Luxury

August 2, 2016 By Larry

Originally posted in the Vacaville Reporter: The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano believes that it’s good to think outside of the box; actually, we think outside cans and bags too. We recognize the value in packaged food. It is less complicated to transport, is convenient and has a longer shelf life. However, we also realize the importance of balancing diets with healthier options. That is why we are committed to providing people with fresh fruits and vegetables.

The data is clear, consuming fresh produce is vital for our health. It combats obesity and diabetes, improves well-being and is the natural way of getting vitamins and nutrients that the mind and body need. Unfortunately, fresh produce can be out of reach to those on a tight food budget.

In the early days of the Food Bank, donations of produce were a small part of our operation. We received fruit from backyard trees and received donations from a local produce market. We occasionally got donations of cabbage or cantaloupe from local fields. The produce was welcome, but it was random and was not a significant portion of the food we distributed.

Fast forward four decades and the Food Bank now provides people in need with over 10 million pounds of produce a year. In fact, we have two distribution programs that focus exclusively on getting fruits and vegetables to food-insecure community members.

The Food Bank’s Farm 2 Kids program works in conjunction with after-school programs to provide fresh produce to kids, even when school is out. Many children who receive free or discounted breakfasts and lunches during the school year have no choice but to skip meals during the summer break. Farm 2 Kids helps bridge that gap for thousands of school-aged children.

Last summer, we distributed over 176,000 pounds of fresh produce through our special Farm 2 Kids summer program. This summer we are continuing to build the program. We are making healthy fruits and vegetables available to over 5,900 kids each week, at 46 sites, in partnership with dozens of programs across Contra Costa and Solano counties.

In addition to receiving produce, the children are educated about the benefits of eating healthy. Not only are their growing bodies being nourished now, but healthy lifelong eating habits are being reinforced for their future.

The other program that focuses exclusively on distributing produce is the appropriately named Community Produce Program. We started it in 2013 and it quickly became our second largest distribution program. Fresh produce is distributed year-round using customized refrigerated trucks that serve as mobile farmers’ markets.

Today we have 55 Community Produce Program distribution sites that provide produce to people twice a month. Last year, through this program alone, we provided over three million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to low-income families. People of all ages, including children and seniors, benefit from this resource and receive produce that they otherwise might not afford.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano believes fresh fruits and vegetables should not be considered a luxury. Our entire society benefits when everyone has access to healthy food. Together, we are not only fighting hunger, we are also strengthening the population’s overall health.

Food Bank Has Programs For Children

March 1, 2016 By Larry

Originally posted on the Vacaville Reporter: An astonishing one out of five children within our community is food-insecure. Child hunger doesn’t just affect children. It affects parents and our society as a whole.

When children grow up with chronic hunger, we know that they experience significant physiological damage because their growing bodies don’t get the nutrition they need. Children also suffer psychological damage because they don’t have the sense of security that comes from knowing where their next meal is coming from.

Food is the most basic daily need. As a parent myself, I can imagine the anguish a parent faces when they struggle financially to the point where they can’t always have enough food to feed their children. Not being able to provide for your child destroys a parent’s self-worth. Many parents face it on a daily basis and many more found themselves in this boat for the first time during the housing crash in 2008.

Studies have shown that food-insecure children fall behind their friends in academic achievement. Children are the future of this country, as we all know, so not providing adequate nutrition now will ultimately negatively affect all aspects of this nation.

To address child hunger, we have programs at the Food Bank that cater specifically to children. Farm 2 Kids helps low-income children have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We partner with after-school programs in low-income areas in eligible school districts. Children take home three to five pounds of produce weekly.

Our School Pantry Program provides nutritious, nonperishable food to students attending qualified low-income schools. Located on school grounds, the pantries offer middle school and high school students access to groceries on an as-needed basis.

The Food Bank is an important resource for children in need within our community, and we also conduct outreach to educate families with children about other resources available to them. We work with the county to help enroll families in the CalFresh program. Through this program families receive benefits to purchase groceries helping to stretch their limited budgets. CalFresh is the most effective nutrition assistance program at pulling families out of poverty.

In three short months, schools will be out for the summer. When my children were growing up, summer just meant adjustments to our family routine because school was no longer in session. We never thought about our children not having enough food because school is out.

Unfortunately, the reality for many children is that summer breaks mean less food is available to them. That’s why the Food Bank advocates for the Summer Food Service Program at the government level.

Also, we perform outreach locally to educate families about this federal nutrition assistance program that helps children 18 and younger. We believe that no family in our community should ever have to send a child to bed hungry.

If you are interested in donating to the Food Bank to help us end child hunger, please visit www.foodbankccs.org/childhunger.

The author is executive director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, based in Concord. Email: [email protected]

Continuing to Help Seniors In Need

February 4, 2016 By Larry

Originally posted in The Vacaville Reporter: Working at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano for all of these years has taught me that many of our senior citizens are food-insecure because they struggle financially. Thirty years ago we started our Senior Food Program, to help this often-vulnerable segment of our population.

Our goal was to provide some supplemental food assistance to low-income seniors, age 55 and older. We saw that people who relied on Social Security as the bulk of their retirement income had difficulty making ends meet. Three decades later, that has not changed.

One thing that has changed is that thirty years ago it was much more common for people to retire with an employee-sponsored pension to help in their golden years as a reward for years of dedicated service. Nowadays most people are expected to self-fund their retirement accounts, but not everyone can afford to do so. When you are barely getting by and having difficulty paying your bills in the present, it’s hard to put away money for the future.

An ongoing problem within the Social Security system is that while the cost of food, housing and healthcare are always on the rise, increases in benefits are minimal or nonexistent. Social Security benefits simply don’t keep up with the rising cost of living, especially in the Bay Area.

A senior we recently spoke with at a distribution explained, “When you live on social security only, you have to budget very, very carefully.” She shared that receiving food from the Food Bank “takes a lot of pressure off of you because you know you can always go down and get a loaf of bread. You can get something to make a stew.”

Another senior at the distribution explained, “It helps with your weekly food budget. Every little bit helps. That’s less money we have to spend at the grocery store that we can use for something else like shampoo or bath soap.”

In addition to the Senior Food Program, low-income seniors can receive food through some of the Food Bank’s other direct distribution programs, including the Community Produce Program and Harvest to Home. We also partner with other nonprofit agencies that provide assistance to seniors through their pantries and soup kitchens.

We are thankful for our supporters who allow us to provide seniors with the nutritious food they deserve. If you are interested in making a financial donation to fight senior hunger, visit us at www.foodbankccs.org/seniors. If you are a senior needing assistance, please visit www.foodbankccs.org/getfood to get more information about a Senior Food Program distribution in your city.

The number of seniors we serve has grown over the years. Many of the seniors we talk to were once hard-working people who never imagined that they’d need assistance from a food bank someday. Aging is inevitable and people are living longer than ever. We need to let seniors know that we care and send the message that our society still values them.

Meet Colleen: A Senior Citizen Who Never Thought She’d Ever Need Food Assistance

January 28, 2016 By Jenny

Most of the seniors we serve never imagined that they would someday be in the position of needing assistance from the Food Bank. Colleen, age 71, is no exception. She worked as a Dental Nurse for years. When her husband fell ill with cancer, she became his full-time caregiver. Now a widow for five years, she lives solely on her social security.

Like many seniors, Colleen has to make tough choices with her limited income, especially when it comes to paying for medical expenses.

“The price of meds is going up so high. One of my medicines went from a $1.20 co-pay to a $20.00 co-pay,” Colleen explains. She told her doctor that she was not going to be able to pay for that one any longer. “Yeah, I’ve had to make those choices and I’ve done without the medicine. It’s very real; it’s very very real.”

Colleen adds, “I’ve needed new glasses for a couple of years and I can’t afford them. Medicare covers the cost of an eye exam, but they don’t cover the cost of glasses.”

Colleen is extremely thankful for the food she receives from the Food Bank by way of a partnering pantry. “It makes it so much easier to live day-to-day. I don’t need a lot, but boy it sure comes in handy. Just a can of soup or a loaf of bread or a piece of meat, I can make that last for three or four days. It’s just saved my life.”

She enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering at the pantry and being the coordinator of the monthly dinners at her senior housing development. She encourages others to not feel ashamed for needing assistance. “If you are hungry and you don’t have the funds to buy yourself some decent food and take care of yourself, you need to find out about these programs and let people help you.”

To learn more and to make a financial gift to help seniors the Food Bank provide assistance, visit www.foodbankccs.org/seniors.

Food Bank Debuts Harvest to Home Program

January 6, 2016 By Larry

Originally posted on the Vacaville Reporter: We at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano are excited to start 2016 by announcing a new program.

Harvest to Home started as a pilot program and has now officially become our eighth direct distribution program. Like our other endeavors, it was created out of an unfulfilled need within our community.

We became aware of this need while out on our Community Produce Program distributions. That program involves two converted beverage trucks going out to 56 sites in low-income neighborhoods and serving as mobile farmer’s markets. As the program was gaining momentum and becoming more visible, we were asked by community partners if it would be possible to make additional stops at low-income residential housing complexes located near our Community Produce Program sites.

We learned that residents in nearby neighborhoods qualified to receive food from the Community Produce Program, but simply could not participate because they didn’t have transportation to the distributions, were at work during distribution times or were medically homebound.

The truckloads of food that come into our warehouses can only make a difference if we can successfully get it out to our community members in need. Our job is to not only procure food, but also to make it accessible.

We recognized that if we went to these low-income housing complexes, we could reach more people in need and do so in an efficient manner. And so Harvest to Home was born.

There are currently six sites up and running; they are located in Richmond, Pinole, Vallejo, Dixon, Hercules and Concord. The deliveries occur twice a month and include fresh seasonal produce and loaves of bread.

Our Food Bank staff delivers the food to these sites where volunteer residents and the site staff typically set up distributions in common areas like community rooms. At a pre-determined time, residents can come in with bags and pick out what they need.Similar to a farmer’s market, it becomes a time for shopping and socializing, providing a sense of community and nutrition.

Living on a limited income is not easy, especially in this area. Single parents who have low-paying jobs struggle every day to feed their families.Senior citizens and disabled people have a difficult time getting by, even if they live in subsidized housing. We are proud of this new program that allows us to reach even more people in need.

Over 900 individuals received fresh fruits and vegetables last month from the Harvest to Home program. The feedback we have received so far has been very positive. With the community’s continued support, we hope to add two additional sites this year.

The author is executive director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, based in Concord. Email: [email protected]

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