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Youth travels over 1,800 miles to fight Bay Area hunger

July 11, 2019 By Libbie Hodas

Village Presbyterian Church, based out of Prairie Village, Kansas, reached out to our Volunteer Services during the spring. They were planning a summer trip for 60 middle and high school students in their youth programs. Could we use the help? Of course, we said, “Yes!”

Traveling over 1,800 miles to Concord, California, students and chaperones from Village Presbyterian Church visited us last month. Divided into groups of fifteen, volunteers helped to sort fresh produce and goods at the Food Bank. We also talked about hunger in the Bay Area and throughout the country.

When we asked them about their plans for the week, we were surprised to learn we were not the only stop on their schedule.

While they are here, the group is volunteering at several nonprofits throughout the Bay Area including Project Open Hand, St. Anthony Foundation, GLIDE Memorial Church, St. Vincent de Paul, CityTeam Oakland, and Farm2Market: Alameda Point Collaborative.

During their busy schedule, we had a chance to speak with Jenna Soltys, Associate Director of Youth Ministries. With so many nonprofits in our area, Jenna shared with us that this was a great place to learn about serving others.

Tell us about your group. What brings you to the San Francisco Bay Area?
We are a mission-focused youth group. Throughout the year we go on trips to serve communities at local, domestic, and international locations. We don’t want our kids to grow up in a bubble. A trip like this teaches them about teamwork, being flexible, and what is happening in other parts of the world.

You’re in California on a fun trip, why did you decide to come volunteer at the Food Bank?
The goals of our Youth Department and Church are service-centered, inclusive, and about serving people and getting out into the world.

Jenna explained how volunteering impacted her early in life. As a youth, she went on community-based service-learning trips to volunteer her time. She said that volunteering changed her perspective on the world and created a commitment to serve others. It is also the reason why she is now the Associate Director of Youth Ministries leading trips for youth. She hoped that volunteering in places like the Bay Area would have a similar impact on her students.

What would you like to tell other youth group leaders about volunteering?
You can have a group bonding experience on a trip like this. If you aren’t a big organization, you can work with a third-party provider such as City Service Mission to help coordinate booking, housing, and volunteer opportunities for an entire trip.

The Food Bank wishes to thank Jenna and the youth from Village Presbyterian Church for volunteering at the Food Bank and learning about hunger in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Do you have a group that would like to volunteer? At the time of writing this, we need groups of up to 20 volunteers to help us sort food at our Fairfield Warehouse. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.

Need inspiration for team building ideas?

March 6, 2019 By Guest

Looking for a fun and meaningful way to bond with your co-workers or clients? Pacific Service Federal Credit Union shares how they have successfully incorporated philanthropy into their team building efforts:

“Pacific Service Credit Union is a proud supporter of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. It is part of our mission to be a good corporate citizen and assist the communities we serve. We support the Food Bank because 1 in 8 of our neighbors depend on them to receive emergency and supplemental food.

We value our partnership with the Food Bank and have found many creative ways to donate time and money. One of our favorites is our annual three-month long ‘Jeans for Beans’ campaign. Employees are encouraged to “buy” punch cards by donating food, which allows them to wear jeans any day of the week.

We also place collection barrels in our corporate office and branches during the holidays. Typically, we collect more than 500 pounds of food to assist families in need.

Along with corporate donations, we contribute approximately $37,000 annually to the Food Bank.

In January, we hosted a group of local business partners to lunch and an afternoon of sorting food. In just a couple hours, the group sorted more than 2,000 pounds of food which was distributed to families in the community. All of the attendees left that afternoon with a feeling of triumph for what they helped the Food Bank accomplish. It was a fantastic volunteer experience and before the group left the building, they were already planning their next sorting date. We are proud to be part of an organization that has such a profound impact on the community.”

For information on team building and Corporate sponsorship opportunities, contact John Calender – [email protected] or call 925.771.1313.

Volunteer Spotlight: Renee Schlicting

April 16, 2018 By Rachel

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We’re celebrating with a few stories submitted by regular volunteers. Tell us why you volunteer in the comments. Take it away, Renee!

“I retired from work two years ago and I knew I wanted to do something to help people. I never had the time to volunteer while I was working full time and raising my two sons.

I started searching the wonderful web to see what opportunities were out there. I came across the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and signed up.

I primarily help distribute the fresh produce at various sites throughout Fairfield and Vacaville. It so good to see the wonderful produce we hand out and to see how grateful people are to get produce. It gives me a chance to interact with people and I love working outside. I have also really enjoyed working with Elaine who drives the food truck.

It amazes me how many people the Food Bank helps feed. I also never realized how many people need help with food and it makes me realize how fortunate I have been to have never really been hungry my entire life. I look forward to many more rewarding experiences!”

To find a volunteer role that suits you, visit www.foodbankccs.org/volunteer.

Volunteer Spotlight: Roger Hancock and CSAA Insurance Group

April 12, 2018 By Rachel

Roger Hancock has been a long-time friend of the Food Bank as a regular volunteer and donor. Ten years ago he brought along a team of CSAA Insurance Group volunteers and the rest is history. Now he helps organize numerous events throughout the year for employees to volunteer at the Food Bank. New hires at CSAA Insurance Group headquarters in Walnut Creek also participate in a volunteer event at the Food Bank as part of their on-boarding process.

What was your first impression of the Food Bank?
Amazing facility and truly amazing staff and volunteers. It is extraordinary what the Food Bank accomplishes on a daily basis to serve hunger in our community. I was most impressed that Larry Sly, Executive Director of the Food Bank, stopped by to thank the volunteers for the important work that they do. Larry continues to find time in his day to swing by to thank the food sorting volunteers. Incredible, personal touch.

When you last volunteered, how did that make you feel?
I always have a rewarding, meaningful, and fun time at the Food Bank. Our employees at CSAA Insurance Group also report feeling fulfilled and enjoying spending time with their colleagues. And, I also like that I can volunteer alongside of my wife, Sunny. I also like the “physical workout.” I usually volunteer to lift, tape, and weigh boxes that are about 30 – 40 pounds.

What do you wish other people knew about the Food Bank?
Volunteering at the Food Bank truly is rewarding and an excellent place for our employees to volunteer in teams. The time commitment to successfully complete a volunteer shift is very manageable – lasting 2 – 3 hours. I leave the Food Bank pretty exhausted. But, I feel great at what our team of volunteers accomplishes.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Do it. Volunteer. When I go to the Food Bank — I arrive happy and excited. When I am at the Food Bank, I am working hard and having fun. And, when I leave the Food Bank, I know I have made a difference in the lives of others… and in my own life too.

Thanks for all you do Roger and team!

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15, 2018 By Lisa

The post below written by Executive Director Larry Sly was originally posted in 2015 and is as relevant today as it was then. We are happy to report that three years later we now have over 106,000 volunteer hours donated to us a year. Even with that, many shifts in our Fairfield warehouse go unfilled. With a variety of ways to volunteer, your unique skills can help us fight hunger. If you would like to honor Dr. King’s memory by volunteering, browse the calendar for volunteer opportunities to fit your schedule.

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When the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was declared I don’t think people realized it would evolve into a day that is focused on volunteer service. It’s very appropriate the day has become dedicated to community service, as it highlights the role giving back plays as part of American life. For those of us old enough to remember, when the federal holiday was declared many states and localities did not observe the day. Recent events demonstrate that the struggles of the civil rights era are still not resolved and when the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was enacted by the federal government, there was resistance to honoring the day. But as time has passed, the holiday has become more universally observed, and that is because the holiday honors the work Martin Luther King Jr. did to help make a better community.

Today many people celebrate the holiday by participating in a volunteer activity that helps make a stronger community. Volunteering is an American tradition that goes back generations. It is a tradition that when people identify a problem they come together to try to help. Service clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptomists or Lions clubs exist so members can act as volunteers to make a stronger community. Faith communities often have a social mission committee that focuses on the role they should play in dealing with community issues. Non-profit organizations have a distinct role in our society because we realize there are some things that are done better by organizations that effectively use volunteers in their work.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano depends on volunteers. We have more than 88,000 hours of volunteer time given to us each year. That includes people answering our phones, sorting the food donations we receive and helping with the food distributions we do in the community. Our Board of Directors are all volunteers, the people who help us prepare thank you letters for donors are volunteers, and the people who help bag produce for distribution are volunteers. We depend on people being willing to give their time and talent in order to make our work possible.

Like every other non-profit organization in our community, we need your help. Whether you want to help the Food Bank, a homeless shelter or an education program at your local school, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is an excellent reminder of how much your help is needed. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the most moving statements ever made about the society we hope we will all see one day. Everyone should be judged on the content of their character, not the color of their skin or any other factor. By volunteering and giving back to our society, we help move ourselves closer to that goal. When we give, we enrich ourselves because we understand the problems others face and what we can do to make a difference. When we give back, we honor Dr. King’s memory.

Get involved and make a difference

January 3, 2017 By Larry

Originally posted on the Vacaville Reporter:

“But what can I do?”

When the world’s problems seem to be overwhelming, that’s the first question many of us ask ourselves. The answer is GET INVOLVED. There are countless worthwhile organizations that are looking for people who are willing to help others in need. The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is no exception.

Along with our financial donors, the Food Bank relies heavily on volunteers. In fact, committed people gave over 96,000 hours of their precious time to help ensure hungry people in our community had access to food last year. That’s the equivalent of 46 full-time employees! We would not be able to distribute the more than 20 million pounds of food a year and have 96 cents for every dollar go directly towards food programs if it weren’t for these coveted everyday heroes.

If you haven’t volunteered before and you are wondering what you’ll get out of it, all you need to do is do an Internet search on “benefits of volunteering.” You’ll learn that you’ll actually end up getting more than you give. Improving your mental and physical health, developing new skills, and creating new friendships are just some of the documented perks that come with philanthropic efforts.

Laura, a mother of four, started out as a Food Bank financial donor and then decided to deepen her involvement by coming in to volunteer. When asked why she volunteers, she replied with, “It’s quite simple, everyone needs to eat. I have volunteered at the produce distributions and have seen where my money goes. When you see all those people lined up for fresh fruits and veggies, you can see how many people need help with food.”

Rose initially got involved at the Food Bank by frequently volunteering in the warehouse while she was working full-time in the corporate world of banking. After recently retiring, she started providing much-needed assistance in the office. Rose explained, “I volunteer at the Food Bank because of the high energy and team spirit towards ending hunger, which is important to me. I now have knowledge about the far-reaching impact of the Food Bank; it’s like a big safety net to the community.”

We are thrilled that recently Diablo Magazine recently honored two of our beloved long-term volunteers. Married for 67 years, Fran and Vic, ages 90 and 94 respectively, have been helping out at the Food Bank for 15 years. They are passionate about the Food Bank’s Food for Children program. Fran shared, “We are excited to get up on a Friday morning and drive to Concord to fill boxes for children and see all of our friends. Vic added, “It’s so rewarding to be so involved in something that’s good.”

These volunteers all have something in common. One day they all decided to try something new. They opened themselves to a new experience that would help make our community a better place. We encourage you to do the same.

There are many ways for both adults and children to get involved at the Food Bank. Giving as little as two hours of your time can help change the world.

To learn more, visit www.foodbankccs.org.

Over 400 attendees fill Concord warehouse for Volunteer Recognition Lunch

October 31, 2016 By Guest

On Sunday, October 30^th, the Food Bank hosted well over 250 volunteers for a Volunteer Recognition Lunch at our Concord warehouse to celebrate their contributions towards ending hunger. This past year, our wonderful volunteers donated over 96,000 hours of their time in a myriad of ways!

Sharon Zeppegno, Volunteer Services Manager, described it as the highest turnout yet. Their Sunday afternoon was spent socializing, enjoying a catered lunch, and being recognized for their generous contributions.

From everyone at the Food Bank, thank you for sharing time and gifts as we work together to end hunger.

Check out all the pictures from the event on our Facebook page.

Behind The Scenes Look At How The Food Bank Makes A Difference

September 27, 2016 By Guest

Guest post by Tom Barnidge, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Volunteer:

The single-file line began forming at least 30 minutes before the event was to start. There were men and women, old and young, tall and short. There were mothers pushing strollers, pre-schoolers hanging on to parents’ hands and seniors leaning on walkers and canes.

They were white, black, Hispanic, Asian, all united in a purpose this day: They came to fill their bags with 20 pounds of fruits and vegetables delivered by refrigerated truck and then piled high on folding tables on a San Pablo parking lot.

The Community Produce Program, which services neighborhoods far and wide, is only one of many ways that the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano helps put dinner on the tables of disadvantaged families. But until you see the operation in action, until you see the smiling faces and the twinkling eyes, you can’t appreciate what this program means to families struggling to get by.

On this day, a simmering Friday in September, about 200 participants — most indicating they had three or more dependents at home — patiently waited their turns to check in with a volunteer and fill their bags with three-pound portions of potatoes, onions, carrots, oranges, pears and apples. All waiting lines should be so orderly.

The truck’s twice monthly visits are keenly anticipated and its schedule well known, thanks to word-of-mouth communication by appreciative participants. Every visit is an important visit, of course, but some leave special memories behind.

On this occasion, it came from a youngster about 4 years old, who quietly followed his mother from station to station, boredom on his face, until he saw what awaited him on a table near the end.

“Wow,” he said. “Apples!” His eyes lit up.

It was a moment that reminds you why the Food Bank is so important.

Big Thanks to Rancho Solano!

July 20, 2016 By Jenny

Thanks to the generous residents and helpful volunteers of Rancho Solano for holding their 16^th Annual Food Drive, Thanksgiving in June.

They collected 2,351 pounds of food for the Food Bank! We are especially appreciative for the generous donation, since food donations tend to decrease down during the summer months.

Food Bank in Fairfield Needs Volunteers

July 5, 2016 By Larry

Originally posted in the Vacaville Reporter: The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is facing a critical shortage of volunteers at our Fairfield warehouse. Though our Concord warehouse has an abundance of individuals, families and corporate groups willing to donate their time, it’s an ongoing challenge to meet the demands in our warehouse on the other side of the Benicia Bridge. In fact, in the past three months, only 25 percent of the available shifts in Fairfield were filled to capacity.

The need is great because most of our produce preparation occurs in our Fairfield facility. We take pride in that over half of the food we distribute consists of fresh produce. In order to get the fruit and vegetables out to our community members in need (from children to seniors), it needs to be sorted and bagged first.

If you’ve never helped out in our sorting room, you might be wondering what’s involved. It’s quite simple and all shifts only require a two or three hour time commitment. The Food Bank receives produce in vast cardboard bins. Volunteers move the produce from the large bins to smaller, more manageable, containers such as bags and boxes that are light enough to carry. During the process, produce is inspected and any produce that isn’t edible is removed.

Because we have over 90,000 hours of volunteer time gifted to us each year between the two warehouses, we have a computerized volunteer management system. It’s easy to look up available opportunities in Fairfield and register to be a volunteer by going to our website at www.foodbankccs.org/volunteer.

We make it convenient to volunteer by offering day shifts Monday through Saturday and shifts in the early evening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

If you have children, we encourage you to introduce them to the rewarding experience of helping others. Children as young as 11 years old can volunteer when accompanied by an adult. The Food Bank is conveniently located near the Jelly Belly factory, so you can turn the day into a fun summer excursion.

If you have younger children, we encourage you to sign up for the next Family Food Sort on Saturday, July 16, from 9:00 to 11 a.m. At the monthly Family Food Sort event, the minimum age requirement for volunteering is lowered to 5 years old when accompanied by an adult.

Volunteering is a rewarding experience for people of all ages. We feel better about ourselves and our community when we are giving to something bigger. Encourage your friends and organizations to join you. The relationships we build when we work together with people from service clubs or faith communities makes us all feel part of a significant change.

It would not be possible for the Food Bank to provide food to people in need if we did not have dedicated supporters willing to offer hands-on help. Although sorting produce is definitely our greatest need right now, you can look at our website for other ways that you can assist. We urge you to join us in making our community better by signing up to be a volunteer today.

Help Us Celebrate 40 Years By Donating To Food Bank

July 28, 2015 By Larry

Originally posted on the Vacaville Reporter: It is common to dread turning forty, but we at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano are proud of what we have accomplished as we turn the big 4-0. Today marks the 40th anniversary that our incorporation documents were filed.

To honor our 40th birthday, generous donors came together to make up the Friends of the Fortieth Fund. They contributed $40,000 to be used as a matching fund for other donors. In short, if community members rally together to contribute $40,000, we will actually receive $80,000 because of the dollar-for-dollar match.

What does this mean to the food-insecure people we serve? Since we are able to provide two meals for every dollar we receive, your donations (along with the matching funds) will allow us to provide 160,000 meals to children and seniors in our community.

The concept of a local food bank started with a borrowed Safeway trailer, parked in a church parking lot, and two employees who had access to trucks. When people applying for government assistance programs ran into delays, eligibility workers would refer them to these pantries to obtain emergency food.

At the beginning, we were providing food to 19 emergency food pantries. We now serve almost 200 pantries and 1 in 8 residents.

We are no longer an agency exclusively providing short-term assistance. We still support pantries that assist people on an emergency basis, but we also are an essential part of the ongoing community response to hunger.

We have developed specific programs that give food to low-income seniors and low-income children. We also make available donated food from the US Department of Agriculture to low-income people in Solano and Contra Costa counties. Our Community Produce Program provides fresh fruit and vegetables at clinics, churches and schools in low-income neighborhoods. We are part of a network that food-insecure people use to help provide for their families.

Our ongoing job is to continue providing food to people in need, while working to end hunger. What are some of the things we do to end hunger? We partner with governmental, philanthropic and other community-based programs to try to increase participation in the CalFresh program. We are working to help more children benefit from the School Lunch Program and Summer Meal Program. We engage the community and advocate at the Capitol so we can help everyone obtain the good nutrition they need to thrive.

Our founders knew that saving food from waste was a good idea. The same principle guides us today, as we see what food donations are available and determine how best to use them to meet the needs of the people we serve. However, food donations alone don’t cover the need within our community. We need to also purchase food in order to meet the demand. And you guessed it, purchasing food takes money.

If you are interested in making a donation to the Food Bank in honor of our 40th anniversary of serving the community, you can do so at www.foodbankccs.org/40for40.

We humbly thank our community members for your continued support during the past forty years.

Holiday Spirit Of Giving Is Needed The Whole Year Long

July 14, 2015 By Larry

Originally posted on the Vacaville Reporter: When I was a child (a long time ago), the newspaper had a little box listing the number of days until Christmas. Maybe it was an advertisement paid for by retailers, but it certainly made me count down to the ultimate holiday. As an adult, it is amazing how fast the holidays sneak up on us. With that said, we are officially more than halfway to the 2015 holiday season.

Different wintertime holidays provide opportunities for introspection and celebration to honor important cultural events. The holidays are a time when people are most likely to take action in making a difference in their community. Generous people provide the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano with food donations, financial donations and volunteer hours.

If you looked at a graph of the Food Bank’s support month by month in all three areas, you’d see the enormous peaks in November and December.

The challenge for the Food Bank is that the people we serve are hungry every day. We assist food-insecure people all year long. We stretch the food we receive during the holidays as far as we are able.

However, we end up purchasing more food during the summer to offset the decline in food donations and food drives. The National Association of Letter Carriers helps us out by conducting a large-scale food drive in the spring.

We need this enthusiasm for hosting food drives year round from both big organizations and individuals wanting to make a difference.

Whether you want to host a food drive or drop nonperishable food off at an existing one, visit us at www.foodbankccs.org/fooddrive for more information.

There often is a spike in financial donations during the holidays from both corporations and individuals.

People want their neighbors to all have a good holiday meal. To help people receive proper nourishment all year long, we make it easy to donate on a monthly basis. To find out more about becoming a pledge donor, visit www.foodbankccs.org/donate.

Even though we expand our volunteer opportunities during the holidays, we often have to limit the number of groups we can safely accommodate because of the increased interest in volunteering. During the summer, we have more perishable fresh produce available to us than anytime of the year, so we need volunteers to help sort it in a timely manner.

In fact, an opportunity is coming up on Saturday, July 18, for families with young children, ages 5 and older, to volunteer. Our Fairfield warehouse is hosting its monthly Family Food Sort. Details and registration information are available at www.foodbanksccs.org/familyfoodsort.

The holiday season is a time for us to come together as families and as a unified community.

I often wish that the holiday spirit, especially the desire to help others, were with us throughout the year. The need to feed people in our community does not go away after the holidays. Why wait until November to take action? When people show the holiday spirit all year long, the gift they give is a strong and healthy community.

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