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Where there is a will, there is a way…

September 16, 2020 By Jenny Leave a Comment

Some could argue our “new normal” for our this COVID-19 society can best be described as “indefinite uncertainty” and frankly, adjusting to this is really hard. As difficult as life is right now for almost everyone, we can’t forget there are thousands of people locally who are struggling just to have their basic needs met—like putting food on the table. We applaud the organizations and individuals who, though facing their own challenges, continue to offer hope to others—like the Bay Area refineries who organized and participated in the 2020 Refinery Run.

For the past nineteen years, Bay Area refineries have come together to raise both awareness and money for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano with their annual Refinery Run. Under normal circumstances, this event involves Bay Area refinery employees and contractors fueling their “need to feed” by driving motorcycles and custom cars in support of our mission to end hunger.

This year the Refinery Run was turned into an online Refinery Run Virtual Food Drive, which ran from August 10-31. Though things were clearly different due to the pandemic, the amount of support and dedication shown by the refineries not only matched previous years, it actually surpassed it. Knowing more people than ever are turning to the Food Bank, the participating refineries were determined to raise as much money as possible—despite a myriad of logistical challenges.

For starters, the mixer that normally takes place in July to kick-off the Refinery Run couldn’t happen because of social distancing mandates—yet all the refineries still gave at their normal sponsorship level!

Then, to expand their reach, they opened up their Virtual Food Drive to not just refinery employees and contractors but to their friends and family as well.

In the end, the 2020 Refinery Run raised enough money for over 66,000 meals! In its 19-year history, this event has brought in enough funds to provide over 1.3 million meals for our food-insecure neighbors.

Thank you Phillips 66, Martinez Refining Company, Valero Benicia Refinery and Marathon Petroleum Corporation for being able to adapt and carry on this fundraising tradition when so many events are being canceled. What you’ve accomplished this year demonstrates we can find a way to lift up our community—no matter how extraordinary the times. Everyone has the power to make a difference! Visit foodbankccs.org/virtualfooddrive for more information on how you or your organization can start an online fundraiser.

Less Waste means less hunger

October 10, 2019 By Jenny

We have 1.4 million reasons why it’s important to work together if we are to achieve our common goals. The official numbers are in and the total pounds of food we rescued increased from 3 million to 4.4 million in just one year!

What does “rescuing” food involve? In short, we have agreements with food retailers, producers, and distributors to pick up, properly transport and store surplus food. Instead of that perfectly edible meat, produce, dairy, deli, dry goods and bulk product going to waste, we ensure it quickly gets into the hands (and bellies) of people who need help.

It’s only been in the last few years that the congruent topics of food waste and food rescue have sparked a nationwide discussion; yet, this concept is nothing new to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Applying this logic of procuring excess food from retailers and giving it to people who don’t have enough to eat is how we started out over 40 years ago.

What was true in the 70’s is still true today–when food is safely and efficiently rescued, everyone wins: the retailers, the environment, and of course our hungry neighbors in need!

We extend our gratitude to the retailers listed below, Feeding America–the national network of food banks, our local certified partner agencies, and all of the wonderful volunteers that helped us with our largest one-year recovery effort to date!

Thank you to the following retailers who trust us with food-safe practices:

Big Lots
Costco
FoodMaxx
Foodsco
Lucky
Nob Hill
Raley’s
Safeway
Sam’s Club
Smart & Final
Smart Food Service (previously Cash n’ Carry)
Sprouts
Target
Trader Joe’s
Walmart
WinCo

Larry Sly announces his retirement from Food Bank

September 5, 2019 By Jenny

As a valued supporter of our work, I wanted to let you know I am preparing to retire from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. When I accepted the job as a truck driver – fresh out of college – for the newly-formed Food Bank in 1976, I had no idea I would end up providing leadership for the organization for over 43 years.

I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have had a professional life dedicated to helping provide healthy food to people in our community. Now it is time for me to shift gears and start using my hiking boots and kayak on a regular basis. There’s a good chance I will end up volunteering somewhere because I am built that way.

The impact the Food Bank makes on this community will always be important to me and I am committed to making the transition to new leadership a smooth one. In preparation for my departure, our Board of Directors established a Transition Committee to find the right person to lead the organization and ensure its future success.

I have absolute confidence that our leadership team is ready to skillfully move us into this new chapter for the Food Bank. And I have no doubt the Food Bank will remain steadfast in partnering with our community to end hunger, so your support remains vital.

We value your commitment to the Food Bank and hope that you will reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to contact me at 925-771-1300. You can also contact Kim Castaneda, our Development Director, at 925-849-8365.

A word from our Board of Directors Chair:

Larry has provided outstanding leadership to the Food Bank and its mission to end hunger. We deeply appreciate his dedication and the significant legacy of achievement and service he has created over the past four decades. We wish him all the best as he starts his next chapter.

Larry is continuing his role as Executive Director through the search and selection process for his successor and is using his remaining time with the organization to help ensure a smooth transition for his successor.

Behind the scenes, the Food Bank’s leadership team has been working closely with our dedicated Board of Directors to also ensure a successful transition process.

We are excited to find a new Executive Director who will embrace the culture, values, and mission of this organization and lead the Food Bank into the future.

Tracy M. Tomkovicz
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Board of Directors, Chair

Volunteer spotlight on Gary Morin

August 8, 2019 By Libbie Hodas

If you volunteer at our Concord warehouse on a weeknight, you are likely to cross paths with Gary Morin. The first thing you might notice about him is that he is very tall and friendly, and, come rain or come shine, he always has a smile on his face as he helps the Food Bank sort food for distribution to people in need. We took a moment to get to know Gary and ask him why he has made a commitment to the Food Bank. We hope you enjoy this month’s Volunteer Spotlight.

Name: Gary Morin

Occupation: Senior Auditor with the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General – Audit

What do you do there? We audit any USDA program that gets funding: food stamps, forest service, agricultural products, research animals, etc. I’ve been an auditor for 40 years, since I was out of college. I was going to be a veterinarian, but I found out I was allergic to almost all animals. I was good with numbers so this was a good fit.

How long have you lived in the Bay Area? Fifty-five years! I am a native-born San Franciscan. I have only spent five years away, when I lived in the Philippines with my parents as civilians at Subic Bay naval base. My dad worked in human resources at the base hiring locals to work on the base during the Vietnam War. I’ve lived in Daly City, San Carlos, Novato, and now in Concord.

How long have you been volunteering at the Food Bank? Since October 2015.

What do you do at the Food Bank? I sort food at the Concord warehouse and also help out with food drive events.

What made you want to volunteer at the Food Bank? Forty years ago (1980) I worked with the California Grey Bears in Santa Cruz. They were providing food for seniors. Volunteers [who were also seniors] would go out to Salinas and Watsonville and glean the field. This was before farmers harvested “seconds” for food banks. The fields had already been picked for the farmers, but there were seconds left over that could be eaten. The farmers gave us permission to harvest this. Seniors would go out and pick this food for the Grey Bears. They would go out, pick and fill a truckload full of totes to bring back for distribution. I was a college student with a strong back so I didn’t pick the food I got the honor of lifting the heavy baskets to someone in the truck.

We’d see farmworkers in the fields all the time. One day a farmworker who was on break at the next field came over and asked, “Why are all these old people out here picking food?” I explained what the Grey Bears did and who would be getting this food. The farmworker let out a whistle and two minutes later the truck was full. The farmworkers came over and picked the second harvest for us and put it on the truck and we were done. That got me thinking about helping people in need of getting food. This experience stuck with me. When I moved back to Concord I wanted to start volunteering again, due to a life change. [Editor’s note: Grey Bears is still going strong. To learn more, check out their website at www.greybears.org .

Why do you continue to volunteer? It’s a good way for me to unwind from the crazy day of pushing a pencil and doing the auditing. You’re doing intense auditing all day and this is completely different. It’s also a way to get exercise, keeping moving, and get out of the house. I meet different people every time I come to volunteer, and it is fun to share the history of the Food Bank with them. It is fun to see their eyes widen when they realize how much food is distributed from this warehouse in a month!

Why is volunteering important to you? In this busy world, with demanding professional commitments and so many distractions, how do you fit in volunteering with your work schedule? For me it’s a way to give back to the community, to help out, and it gets me out of being married to work. It helps break that cycle. I know I have to go to the Food Bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That’s my routine. I come straight from work. If I go home—forget it. Now, I have added working with the Food Bank “boxing team” on my days off every other Friday, schedule permitting.

What would you tell someone who works full-time about volunteering? Why should they consider getting involved with the Food Bank? There are so many jobs and tasks that need to be done and you can find something to meet your schedule. There’s no excuse not to volunteer between the Concord and Fairfield warehouses.

Are there times of the year you like to volunteer the most? Letter Carriers Stamp Out the Hunger food drive in May, Scare Away Hunger in October, and the Safeway food drive in November.

Do you have any stories from your time here that you would like to share? What has moved you most? Scare Away Hunger is the best event I’ve seen. High school kids go out on Halloween eve. Instead of collecting candy, they collect food. Marathon provides trucks to pick up the food and a thank you lunch for the kids afterwards. These kids give up their Halloween to feed the hungry. They bring in at least two bobtail trucks full of food for the Food Bank. It’s really cool to see the kids do this.

What would you tell young people about the Food Bank, hunger, or volunteering? Remember not everybody has what you have in the way of food and getting a meal every day. Think about it. What if you could only get one meal a day? How would you feel? Which meal would you want? What would you do? How would you solve that problem? By volunteering for an hour you could help give somebody a meal. Helping others is a good thing.

Helping others is a good thing and we are thankful for Gary’s help at the Food Bank.

Feeling inspired by this interview and want to get involved? At the time of this writing we need volunteers to help us at our Fairfield Warehouse, which can accommodate groups of up to 20 volunteers per shift. To see our current needs visit volunteer.foodbankccs.org/calendar. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected].

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Each month, 1 in 8 people living in Contra Costa and Solano counties receives emergency food from the Food Bank. We often repeat this statistic because it reflects the hidden nature of hunger. With so many in need, those we help are likely to be someone you regularly pass by on your way to work or in your neighborhood.

Fighting hunger in our community is an all-hands-on-deck process. That is why we are grateful for everyone who has chosen to volunteer at the Food Bank, so much so we occasionally shine a spotlight on who is helping us.

Public Statement: Food for All

July 23, 2019 By Larry

CONCORD, JULY 23, 2019 — The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and our partner agencies are a community-based network that provides food to people in need, no matter what their legal status. Working with our partner agencies, government organizations and the philanthropic community, we make food available to people through the community agencies we serve and the direct food distributions we operate.

Unfortunately, the current political climate has caused confusion and fear for the people we serve, especially in immigrant communities. I ask your help in making the community aware that as a private non-profit organization, the Food Bank is not obligated to report the legal status of anyone we serve and will not share personal information with immigration authorities. We track the number of people we serve so we can inform the community about hunger, but we will never share the names of the people who receive food from our organization.

The Food Bank also conducts outreach to enroll more people in the CalFresh program, our nation’s most effective response to hunger. When the Food Bank’s CalFresh outreach staff provides application assistance, we send that information to the appropriate county department.

We continue to serve 178,000 people each month who need food assistance. We are concerned that fears of imminent large scale actions are preventing people from getting the help they need. It is important people understand we respect their privacy as we help them get the food assistance their family needs. The Food Bank is part of a community that cares for each other. Please help us fight hunger in service of our neighbors in need.

New food drive administrator comes full circle

May 7, 2019 By Jenny

Donations slow down considerably this time of year, which is why the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, the nation’s largest one-day food drive, is vital for the Food Bank and for the people it serves.

The concept behind the annual event is actually quite simple. On the Saturday before every Mother’s Day, community members are encouraged to place a bag of nonperishable groceries by their mailbox. From there, countless postal workers, food bankers, and volunteers transport and sort the food to give out to people in need.

Coordinating this massive effort behind the scenes is Neil Zarchin, the Food Bank’s new Food Drive Administrator. With over 6 years of experience in food banking, 33 years of experience as a letter carrier, and a defining memory from his childhood fueling his passion to fight hunger–there is no one more qualified to hit the ground running.

Although Neil is new to this role as Food Drive Administrator, he might be a familiar face to some. Before taking on his new position, he was the Food Bank’s Grant Writer. It was his extensive roots with the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive (also known as Stamp Out Hunger) that gave him the desire to initially seek employment at the Food Bank after he retired from the Post Office in 2012. “The more I got to know about the nature of hunger in America, and the work of the Food Bank, the more inspired I became. I knew I wanted to work at the Food Bank when I grew up,” he says with a smile.

Neil’s roots to the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive go back almost three decades before it came nationwide. He recalls when just a few of the local post offices within the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union started participating in these food drives, including Martinez and Fairfield. Neil ended up serving as the NALC Branch Coordinator for the event for an astounding 17 years!

It’s not just his past work experience that makes Neil an asset to the Food Bank. Beyond his ideal resume is a deep empathy for others that is essential in pulling off a food drive of this magnitude.

Neil recalls, “When I was 10 years old, someone broke into our garage and cleaned out our extra freezer; nothing else was taken. I asked my parents if they were going to call the police and they said ‘no because they could have taken everything and they only took food and they can have it.’ That made a huge impression on me and I’ve held onto that.”

Having done the work himself, Neil can vouch to the tremendous effort the letter carriers put into this event. At the same time, he can offer some perspective on behalf of those who will end up receiving the food. “Working the food drive as a letter carrier is an incredibly difficult day, but it’s one day a year. Everyone is more than willing to pitch in and make it happen. We all realize it’s easier to work one very difficult day than it is to be struggling week after week, juggling bills and trying to feed your family nutritious food.”

When you are at the store this week, please pick up some extra nonperishable groceries and leave them in a bag by your mailbox before delivery on Saturday, May 11. Click here for our list of most needed food. Every can, bag and box of food makes a difference!

Clinical Effort Shows that Sometimes Food is the Best Medicine

February 8, 2019 By Rachel

Originally posted by Contra Costa Health Services

Patients visiting our health centers are now being regularly screened for hunger when they come in for their medical appointments.

At intake, patients are given a form that asks if they have been unable to afford food or have been worried about running out of food. If patients mark “yes” to any of the food insecurity questions, they are given a referral to the Food Bank Contra Costa and Solano, which then helps those patients sign up for CalFresh (food stamps).

“We know that food insecurity is linked to poor health outcomes,” said Dr. Michelle Wong, head of our Integrative Health Program. “By rolling out universal food security screening at all clinics with an immediate referral to the Food Bank, we are showing our system recognizes food security as vital to patients’ health.”

The universal food-insecurity screenings are part of a broader “food as medicine” campaign at CCRMC & Health Centers to address other factors in people’s lives that impact health besides disease. In recent years, CCRMC/HC has begun incorporating wraparound services for food security and healthy eating – from free weekly assistance with CalFresh sign-ups to offering free produce in clinics to teaching patients how to cook and eat healthier on a budget through group medical visits.

After a successful pilot, the food-insecurity screenings – also known as “hunger vital signs” –started systemwide at all our health centers in December. Food Bank representatives are regularly onsite at various health centers and can often provide immediate assistance following medical visits.

For more information, contact Dr. Gabriela Sullivan at [email protected].

Food Bank committed to helping victims of Camp Fire and other disasters

December 4, 2018 By Jenny

When a community is affected by a large-scale disaster, food banks serve a critical role as “second responders.” They provide food and water in the immediate aftermath and offer longer-term food assistance to people rebuilding their lives.

When the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano worked with four other Bay Area food banks to develop an emergency response plan a few years ago, we had visions of needing it for a crippling earthquake, not fires of unprecedented magnitude. The objective of this mutual aid agreement is to be able to quickly coordinate efforts and concentrate support where we are needed. The plan was activated for the first time during the Santa Rosa area fires last year. With the recent devastation caused by the Camp Fire in Butte County, that plan has officially been activated once again.

As a member of Feeding America, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has an established ongoing partnership with nonprofit agencies serving Butte County and the surrounding area. Now that we have activated the emergency response plan, the other Bay Area food banks, along with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, have all agreed to help us expand the capacity of our North State partner agencies. While the other food banks are assisting in transporting and warehousing the disaster relief food, we are conducting food distributions directly to the displaced victims to help meet the demand.

“Our hearts break for our neighbors north of us in Butte County,” said Larry Sly, our Executive Director. “We’re sending food, water and staff so children and families who are devastated by the Camp Fire will have some comfort and support during their greatest time of need.”

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano’s new distributions are taking place in Chico and Oroville twice a month as long as our services are needed. The activation of the emergency response plan during the Santa Rosa fires taught all food banks the importance of building a flexible plan and being ready to adjust when necessary.

With their eyes welling up with tears, survivors of the fires in Butte County have been sharing their heartbreaking stories with us. Most of the people we’ve met have never before needed food assistance, yet they are now having to turn to us.

If you know of anyone in the affected area needing assistance, please share this flyer with them.

We will continue to serve the needs of Solano County and Contra Costa County residents struggling with hunger, in addition to providing emergency support to fire victims in Butte County. And as we take care of today’s increasing needs, we have to continue preparing for the next catastrophe. The Bay Area food bank’s emergency response plan has now been activated twice in just a little over a year, so we know it’s not a matter of if–but when–we’ll be needed again.

The stronger our collective safety net is in the event of a disaster, the faster our communities will be able to get back on their feet.

Scouts show their commitment to fighting hunger

December 1, 2018 By Jenny

A week after leaving door hangers to remind people of the upcoming Scouting for Food, local Cub Scout Calvin Burt and his den returned to the same Pleasant Hill neighborhoods to pick up donated food on November 17th. This was Calvin’s 4th year participating in this annual event and like always, he got a thrill out of spotting the food at participating houses. Normally he and his den would walk, but with the smoke-filled skies resulting from the fires in Butte County, their families drove half the route.

Calving shared, “After we collected the food, we drove to the church and dropped it off in the boxes at the church. The Boy Scouts helped me put it in the box. The box goes into the trailer and then it gets delivered to the people who need it.”

Scouting for Food is the second largest nation-wide food drive. Though Calvin collected more this year than in any other (19 bags), the overall amount of food donated in Contra Costa and Solano counties was down 15% this year. It’s speculated that the poor air quality from the fire in Butte County played a role in the decline.

To the people who left a bag of groceries on their porch for the Scouts to pick up, Calvin says, “Thank you, we appreciate your donation.” And to the people on the receiving end, he also has a message: “You’re welcome and we hope you enjoy your food.”

7 Ways to help during the holidays!

November 29, 2018 By Jenny

There are places to go, people to see and things to do in the busy month of December…why not fight hunger along the way? Here are 7 ways you can help during the holidays.

PLACES TO GO

1. Grocery Shopping:

Whole Foods Markets and Whole Foods 365 customers will have the option to donate their 5-cent reimbursement to Bay Area food banks for each shopping bag they bring in and use.
Safeway shoppers can purchase a “hunger bag”, a pre-filled bag of groceries, for $10 and donate it to the Food Bank during check-out.
Raley’s customers can make a $10 donation at the register or online, which will provide more than 20 meals to a family in need.

PEOPLE TO SEE

2. Visit Santa:

Help fill up a decorated public transit WestCAT bus with both food AND toys for families in need in Pinole on December 12 or Hercules on December 14 and catch up with the man in red.
Santa will be at the Danville Livery every Saturday and Sunday in December until Christmas. Please bring canned foods for their food drive.

THINGS TO DO

3. Give on someone’s behalf: Right now when you donate in someone’s honor this holiday season, we will mail your honoree a reusable limited-edition shopping bag as a tangible reminder of this meaningful gift.

4. Shop online: Fight hunger next time you shop Amazon by logging in through www.smile.amazon.com, select Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano from the list of partners, then shop as usual. Amazon Foundation will donate 0.5% of your purchases to the Food Bank!

5. Fundraise for the Food Bank: Give nutritious food without lifting a can by encouraging others to contribute to your virtual food drive.

6. Go ice-skating: For every ticket that is collected at the Walnut Creek on Ice rink, Contra Costa Oncology will make a donation to the Food Bank.

7. Service your HVAC: Perfect Star Heating and Air Conditioning is donating $10 for every tune-up performed through January 31^st.

Guest Blog: My behind-the-scenes experience at a food distribution

November 5, 2018 By Guest

Enid is part of the Donor Services team at the Food Bank and was happy to get a chance to help out at a food distribution. She shared her experience with others within the organization; here’s what she had to say:

Recently I got an opportunity to get out of the office to participate in distributions for our Food For Children and Food Assistance Program in Antioch. The first thing I noticed was how much work went into setting up and disassembling a single distribution. I was impressed to see that everything worked like a well-oiled machine, from taking out the tables from their custom place in the van to bagging the bread and produce in a production line, to putting up the shade canopies.

The volunteers were an integral part of the whole process, from setting up tables to bagging non-perishables to give out. Most of these volunteers are regulars and knew exactly how things should be run and helped me understand what to do. One volunteer told me they come to help but stay for the camaraderie.

It was really good for me to see and interact with the people we all work so hard to feed. It puts things in perspective.

I would be remiss without saying that none of this would happen as efficiently and effectively without Julie and Mullie. Together, they have worked at the Food Bank for a combined 54 years (!) and are a fantastic duo. The food distribution worked so smoothly because of their expertise at what they do. I’m really glad I had this opportunity.

Change lives one kind act at a time

November 4, 2018 By Jenny

In the midst of elections and the fast-approaching holiday season, we encourage our supporters to step back, take a deep breath and remember you have the power to help create the kind of community you want to live in. You can change lives–one kind act at a time.

This season, 1 in 8 of your neighbors will not have enough money to buy groceries, let alone a holiday meal. Sally is just one of the many people you can help. She’s a senior citizen raising her 17-year-old grandson on her own. She shared with us the questions she often asks herself: “What are we going to have to eat? Will we have enough money to get it? It is so helpful that we don’t have to worry about getting turkey or ham for the holidays because otherwise, we wouldn’t have a meal.”

There is nothing like the feeling you get when you help others. Are you ready to make a difference? There are different ways you can make an impact:

Make a donation at foodbankccs.org/holidays. You can give in honor of someone – holiday giving made easy!
Consider being a monthly donor because hunger doesn’t just happen during the holidays. Join at foodbankccs.org/nourish365.
Get involved by giving your time. Sign up at foodbankccs.org/volunteer – don’t forget we need volunteers AFTER the holidays too!

Working together we will become a better and stronger community. Food has the power to unify us; let your neighbors in need know you care.