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Never too young to help!

December 13, 2019 By Libbie Hodas

For the last 24 years, Diablo Valley Montessori School (DVMS) in Lafayette has held an annual Coin Drive, benefitting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano for the holiday season. A preschool serving young children through Pre-K, DVMS believes that you are never too young to help someone in need. “This is not only a fun activity for the kids, but it is an important way we can empower our children to take action to help other children and their families who are in need,” said Annie, a member of the Parents Club at the school.

This year when DVMS asked us what else they could do for the Food Bank, we were thrilled that teachers, parents, and students enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to work on a holiday project for seniors who receive our support. Over the past few months, students have been hard at work, carefully crafting holiday cards—for people they don’t even know—so that we can include their well-wishes with our food packages given out through our Senior Food Program. This week, they delivered HUNDREDS of cards for us to disperse!

When asked about their experience, students shared the following:

“I counted coins in my classroom for the coin drive, which is for the people that don’t have any money. We made each of them a lovely card to go with the coins to put a smile on their face.” Skyler, Age 5

“I liked bringing coins to school because it would help feed people who don’t have food. And it was fun making the cards for people for the holidays. The cards will make them happy, and it made me happy to make other people happy!” Camdon, Age 4.5

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.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to all our volunteers. On behalf of all of us here at the Food Bank, thank you for making a difference in someone’s life in 2019.

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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.

Interested in making a volunteer commitment in 2020? At the time of this writing, numerous volunteer opportunities from January to March are waiting to be filled. Register and sign up here: foodbankccs.org/volunteer. Help us fight hunger 365 days of the year!

10 years of volunteering turns strangers into friends

November 7, 2019 By Libbie Hodas

Every day volunteers help us fulfill our mission to lead the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community and in service to our neighbors in need. Food Bank volunteers make up the equivalent of fifty-seven full-time staff members, donating on average more than 117,000 hours annually. That’s a lot!

Through the years, some of our volunteers have decided to make a weekly or monthly commitment. One such group is our Farm 2 Kids group who come in to sort food on a weekly basis.

We asked five founding members to speak with us about their experience.

Pictured: Monday Farm 2 Kids volunteers. From left to right: Susan King, Jennifer Apkarian, Carole Rauchle, Lee Herschman, and Donna Grisanti

How did this group come together? When did this begin?

Group: 2009. It was the beginning of the Farm 2 Kids program.

(Farm 2 Kids is a Food Bank program that provides children attending after-school programs within low-income schools three to five pounds of fruits and veggies weekly to share with their families. To learn more, click here.)

Did someone reach out to you? Were you already volunteers?

Susan: I had been donating money to the Food Bank, but then I got laid off from my job. And I thought, okay, well I can’t really donate money any more, but now I have time. When I called they were starting a new program called “Farm 2 Kids.”

Lee: Wherever I lived, I was always involved in food services between a church and our temple. After I moved to Rossmoor in ’08, I started volunteering in July ’09, and it was just natural to come work in a food bank.

Jennifer: My husband’s employer supported the Food Bank and he got a newsletter which said there was going to be an open house. When I was in college I helped at a food bank, and I really enjoyed it, but I hadn’t done it in years. I wanted to get involved in something like that so I said, “Let’s go to the open house at the Food Bank.” It was there that I learned about “Farm 2 Kids.”

Donna: I had just retired, but I had volunteered at the Food Bank off and on with my company and also with an insurance women’s group which came once or twice a year. So I knew of the Food Bank and I liked the atmosphere. It just happened to be that when I called, this program was just starting.

Carol: I live in San Ramon and I walked to a Safeway to do my grocery shopping. It was the fall. There were two large Food Bank trucks in the parking lot and people standing next to the barrels at the entrance to the store with a list of what foods would be good to donate. Safeway had prepackaged bags for purchase. I purchased a bag and when I came back out a woman stopped me in the parking lot to say “Thank you very much.” And I said, “Tell me about this. I’ve never seen this process before.” And she asked me if I would like to see it. I said “Sure.” So that’s how I got involved. I donated at the Safeway and the person I met was Sharon Zeppegno, the Food Bank’s Volunteer Manager.

Carol, I heard that before you retired, you came on your lunch break. How come?

Carol: Because there were wonderful people in this group. We bonded right away. I worked in Walnut Creek at Kaiser Permanente and they were very big on having their employees donate time to the community.

So, what drives you to keep coming back?

Jennifer: Because there’s a need and because I enjoy it—and the need doesn’t just go away over time. We have to give back to our community. I’ve gotten to know these people and I am incredibly fond of them. It’s become a close-knit group.

Susan: Once we started doing this, we got to know everybody. When someone is not there you think, “What happened?” You find yourself asking each other, “Are you going to be here next week?”

Lee: We email each other if we aren’t going to be here. We also turned our group into a book club. We’ve been exchanging books for 10 years.

Carol: I have real time, now that I am retired. So, I just kept on keeping on.

Lee: It’s like a family.

Jennifer: It is, and what’s nice about it is that we can sort our produce, but chat at the same time, catching up and talking about books and movies. There’s a lot of camaraderie.

Lee: And we’ve also seen each other through a lot of sadness. Ups and downs. Sadness and happiness.

Carol: We do know each other on a certain level. I look forward to coming every Monday to find out what people did last week or how their vacations were or what books they are reading. We have a special team. We have been together for years and to see the same faces every Monday is great.

Did you know each other before?

Group: No.

When people ask you about this group what do you say? Do your kids, your relatives, your neighbors know that you are doing this?

Group: Yes.

Lee: Monday is Lee’s day at the Food Bank.

Donna: I bring my grandchildren when they are out of school.

Lee: We’ve watched them grow up for ten years.

Susan: They’re good workers.

How old are they now?

Donna: They are 16 and 15. And the 15-year old is now working on an after school project related to the Food Bank. Volunteering with me here has developed her enjoyment in doing community service.

Whether you are retired or laid off or working, it’s a busy world. How do you make time to make a weekly commitment?

Group: Because Monday is Food Bank day. That’s our day.

Lee: It’s a commitment, so we show up.

Carol: What we do is important. We know we are right in the middle of an entire process. First people donate their fruits and vegetables to the Food Bank. Then we sort this food and finally, it goes out to the children in need. We can see where the food comes from, where it goes, and who benefits from it. That’s one big part of it for me. And then, to volunteer with like-minded people who are dedicated and caring creates camaraderie.

Susan: Not only does the Food Bank benefit from what we do, but we benefit too. We can feel good about what we’re doing—and come to catch up with our friends. It also doesn’t take a lot of training.

So, anybody could get involved?

Group: Yes.

Lee: It’s a lot of physical work, but as long as I am able, I’ll be here.

Jennifer: It’s a great workout. Especially if you are lifting the boxes.

Susan: And there are different jobs, so everybody can pitch in and do what they feel comfortable doing or what they are good at.

Do you have any stories from the last ten years?

Susan: Yes. The cherries. I love cherries and was excited for cherry season. Normally, the produce we sort is set up in a couple of bins, but in this case, there was one bin, and it was filled with cherries that we had to sort through. Everybody was gathered around one bin sorting cherries. We didn’t even get through half of it because they are little and you have to look at each one to make sure they are good. We never had to sort cherries again. [laughter]

Do any of you have a personal connection to hunger?

Group: No. We’ve been very lucky.

Jennifer: The Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and SNAP provided assistance that prevented someone close to me from going hungry. And this person never did go hungry because of these services.

Do you volunteer at other places?

Susan: Planned parenthood.

Lee: Voter registration. I’ve been doing voter registration for 50 years at least.

Jennifer: Contra Costa Historical Society.

Carol: When I was still working, I donated my vacation time to Habitat for Humanity, and I still volunteer with them now. I am going to Ethiopia this year and the Philippines next year.

Regular Farm 2 Kids volunteers. Clockwise from top left: Donna Grisanti, Carole Rauchle, Darryn Hickey, Janet Saint-Aubin, Lois Mitchell, Jennifer Apkarian, Susan King, Lee Herschman, and Charlie Mitchell

Interested in forming a group and making a commitment to volunteer at the Food Bank on a regular basis in 2020? We have many opportunities and we’d love to talk to you.

New volunteer opportunities: As of the time of this posting, we have several openings in Solano County for our new Mobile Food Pharmacy program (provided in partnership with Solano County and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation). Visit foodbankccs.org/mobilefoodpharmacyvolunteer.

Feel free to reach out to Volunteer Services at [email protected]

Volunteer Services is going green

October 10, 2019 By Jenny

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 will roll out the kiosks over the next several months.

Our loyal volunteers, Lois and Charlie Mitchell, approve of the change. “We are technology challenged, but this was super quick and easy!”

The kiosks are currently in use at our Concord warehouse.

The new kiosks allow volunteers to easily sign in using the email address they used to register for the shift. Captains can check in all their teammates at one time or individual teammates can check-in on their own.

If you would like to sign up for a volunteer shift, please visit foodbankccs.org/volunteer.

The Mitchell's Volunteering at Empty Bowls Event

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.

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