Dear Rachel,
The Food Bank continues to be an essential service that will remain fully operational through the current shut-down to ensure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food.
We want to reassure you that the safety of our volunteers, staff and clients are our top priority. The Food Bank is following requirements from the CDC and local public health authorities that will allow us to continue operating as an essential service. Here are a few of the safety measures we’ve been implementing:
- Mandatory face coverings at all food distributions and inside our facilities
- Limiting the number volunteers for each shift and practicing social distancing
- Increasing the already high standard of cleanliness in our facilities
Read more about all our COVID-19 volunteer safety protocols.
With the need for our services skyrocketing, volunteers like you are essential to meeting the increased needs of the 270,000 people we are serving monthly. Our ability to continue providing food to the community at this level relies heavily on our volunteer support.
Our community food distributions and volunteer needs are not canceled but we understand if you would like to reschedule your upcoming volunteer shift. Please give us 48 hours notice if you are unable to volunteer so we have adequate coverage. Changes can be made here on your volunteer portal account foodbankccs.org/volunteer.
Sincerely,
Your Food Bank Family
There is no denying the holidays will look different this year. 
“About nine years ago I decided to do a community food drive for Beacon Ridge, a townhouse community where I have lived for many years in Walnut Creek. My community was totally supportive of me doing this. So, for the past nine years, I have led this food drive. I start with announcements and handouts at our annual meeting in the fall followed by postings at our mailboxes when the food drive starts. In addition, our homeowners’ association assists by sending emails to all members who have email addresses on file. We send an email notice when the food drive starts, one half-way into the drive and one with about a week left. This year we surpassed all years with donations of 381 pounds of food and $1,995 which translated to 5,305 meals. When we first started the food drive, we had many more pounds of food and less checks. Now we have more checks and less pounds of food. But, either way, what really counts is our total donation and the number of meals we can provide.
The Food Bank thanks the students, parents, and teachers of Diablo Valley Montessori School in Lafayette for their steadfast and thoughtful support. We are grateful for your cheerful holiday cards and all the volunteer hours you put into them. Additional thanks to Suzette, Head of School, for sharing these photos with us.
Did you know? Food Banks are flush with volunteers during the holiday months at the end of the year. But after December 31, we can’t find enough people to fill our volunteer shifts. This is a time when we need your help the most. Not only are our warehouse aisles packed with food drive products that need to be sorted, but hunger never rests. The Food Bank provides emergency food to 178,000 every month. Yet, we find it the most difficult to staff our volunteer shifts during the first months of the year.
We are excited to announce the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is upgrading the check-in process for volunteers. We are transitioning from pen and paper to a more efficient electronic check-in. We 
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!
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.