Blog - Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Volunteer Spotlight: Renee Schlicting

April 16, 2018 By Rachel Leave a Comment

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 Leave a Comment

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!

Join the Food Bank for Hunger Action Day 2018

April 2, 2018 By Carly

Did you know that 1 in 8 members of our community turns to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano each month? The Food Bank supports neighbors from all walks of life and in all corners of our community.

Emergency food assistance is essential, but it isn’t enough. The Food Bank can’t solve the issue of hunger alone. We need YOU to join us in speaking out against hunger and advocating for policies to help eradicate it.

Each year the Food Bank participates in Hunger Action Day, a statewide day of organizing to raise awareness of the issue of hunger and work toward real solutions. We join hundreds of passionate Californians in calling on our elected officials to partner with us to end hunger and poverty.

This year Hunger Action Day will take place on Wednesday, May 16^th. The Food Bank will rent a bus to Sacramento and fill it with Food Bank staff, volunteers, Board Members, food assistance recipients, community partners, and concerned neighbors just like you.

On a daily basis, the Food Bank provides free nutritious groceries to seniors struggling to get by on fixed incomes, college students working toward their degrees, families trying to keep up with rising rents, and individuals who have lost their housing. We work with community partners including senior centers, soup kitchens, school pantries, and churches to meet people where they are at, but we know that we still aren’t reaching everyone in need.

That’s why we gather with anti-hunger advocates on Hunger Action Day in front of the capitol for a rally in the morning where we hear from community leaders, elected officials, and food assistance recipients about the urgency of ending hunger. We will finish the day by having meetings directly with the state elected officials that represent us in Contra Costa County to ask them to use their power to pass anti-hunger policies.

Hunger Action Day on Wednesday, May 16^th will be a full day of action – we typically leave the Food Bank in Concord at 7:00am and return by 5:00pm. In 2016, we brought a crowd of 15; in 2017, we doubled that to a group of 30…could you help us double in size again to reach 60 this year?

Mark the date in your calendar and RSVP this month to reserve your seat on the bus and guarantee a free lunch, snacks, and Hunger Action Day t-shirt! Please reach out to Carly Finkle, Advocacy Manager at the Food Bank, with any questions you may have or to confirm your attendance: cfinkle@foodbankccs.org or 925-849-8361. See you there!

When Two Incomes Aren’t Enough: Meet the Medinas

March 1, 2018 By Jenny

Sometimes two full-time jobs aren’t enough to support a family in the Bay Area. Jorge and Silvia Medina of Richmond work hard to provide for their young boys. However, their combined incomes don’t cover all of their basic expenses.

Jorge recently switched to the night shift at the high-end restaurant he works at in Marin County, so he and his wife could save on daycare expenses. It means less time together as a family, but it also means being able to pay more bills.

They consider themselves to be luckier than some because their friend is currently renting an apartment to them at a below-market rate. They do, however, worry about the future because the property is up for sale.

Receiving supplemental groceries from our Food Assistance Program allows the Medinas to pay for other necessary expenses like utilities, transportation to get to work, and mandated public school uniforms for the kids.

By helping the Medinas and other struggling families today, our supporters are giving our youngest generation opportunities to thrive tomorrow!

Shamrock Smoothie: It doesn’t taste green!

February 28, 2018 By Jenny

No shamrocks were actually harmed in the making of this smoothie…but it does make the perfect drink for March to celebrate both National Nutrition Month and St. Patty’s Day!

Consisting of only 4 whole-food ingredients, this smoothie is easy, delicious and packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s also a good way to use up over-ripe or bruised produce and prevent food waste!

Place the ingredients in your blender in the following order:

1 peeled and sectioned orange (or 2 cuties)
* ½ peeled banana
* ¾ Cup pineapple chunks (1 Cup if you like it sweeter)
1 Cup tightly packed spinach, including stems
1 Cup ice

*Frozen banana and/or pineapple can be used instead of fresh fruit. Just decrease the amount of ice in the recipe or add additional liquid.

Blend and serve.
Serving size: Approx 20 ounces, enough for two small smoothies or one large smoothie. The recipe can easily be doubled.

The great thing about smoothies is that they are super flexible, here are some possible adjustments you can make and still maintain that bright green color:

Optional additions
½ a green apple
vanilla protein powder of your choice
green grapes
plain or vanilla yogurt
¼ cup milk or milk substitute of your choice
kiwi
pear

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.

Neighbors step up as donations slow down

February 20, 2018 By Jenny

Springtime is a typically slower time of year for food donations. We are looking for individuals or groups willing to coordinate a neighborhood food drive to encourage giving. It’s both meaningful and easy to do.

Simply pick up paper bags from the Food Bank and create a flyer to distribute. Place bags on your neighbor’s doorsteps and come back a week later to collect the food.

Last month, the students from Cal High’s Interact Club in San Ramon collected over 1,300 pounds of food through their annual Neighborhood Food Drive!

The food collected helps people receiving assistance from our partner agencies and senior citizens participating in our Senior Food Program. We get feedback that they appreciate the variety of foods that food drives bring.

Ready to try it? Visit www.foodbankccs.org/fooddrive to get started.

Building immunity in the community

February 20, 2018 By Jenny

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the current flu season is the worst in more than a decade, prompting widespread hospitalizations, outpatient clinic visits, and missed school and workdays. We all know that a key to good health is good nutrition, but as we brace ourselves for several more weeks of flu season, many families will struggle to put food on the table. That’s where the Food Bank comes in. Our goal is to not just feed the 182,000 people who have to turn to us each month; we want to provide them with healthy food.

The Food Bank’s focus on nutritionally-packed produce has grown to new heights. We now distribute fresh fruits and vegetables 7-days a week, year round. In fact, fresh produce now accounts for nearly 60% of the total food we serve the community. Our recipients, including children and seniors, especially benefit from nature’s immune-boosting food as viruses run rampant during the cold and flu season.

When it comes to purchasing shelf-stable pantry items, the Food Bank evaluates the nutritional value and takes into consideration the overall content of sugar, salt, vitamins and minerals in each item. We opt to buy healthier food options that include beans, brown rice, lentils, whole wheat pasta, low-sodium or sodium-free canned goods, and canned fruit in 100% juice (rather than syrup).

With the ongoing support of neighbors like you, we can provide a steady supply of fresh and whole foods that help support good health and immunity for our entire community!

Couple uses wedding registry to fight hunger

February 6, 2018 By Jenny

Jyoti and Sundar first communicated online on Valentine’s Day 2017 via a dating app. Two weeks later, after having spent some time talking on the phone, they went on their first date.

As they describe it, “In the weeks and months that followed, those initial sparks of curiosity, attraction & questioning of ‘could this really be real’ blossomed into adventures and a love that is oh so really real.” The two were engaged in July.

Instead of a traditional gift registry, they requested that their well-wishers donate to one of their three selected charities. They contacted the Food Bank and set up a personalized donation page for them. They shared the link with their loved ones via their wedding website with this message:

“Thank you for blessing our marriage. We appreciate having such generous friends and family, and we are fortunate to have all we need. Please donate to help families in our community who do not.”

Their selfless act has raised over $4,300 for the Food Bank so far; that’s enough to serve 8,600 meals!

On behalf of the people we serve, we wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness.

Make a gift to the Food Bank in honor of the happy couple before their fundraiser ends on Valentine’s Day.

North Bay fire relief is still a priority

February 1, 2018 By Jenny

Our friends at the Napa Valley Food Bank are not only contending with the aftermath of the North Bay fires, but they also suffered the unexpected passing of a key operations staff member (prior to the fires). We have been able to lend a hand so they can continue to serve their community.

Our Food Sorting Coordinator, Dan Tagliareni, initially started conducting bi-monthly visits to Napa. He was able to provide much-needed relief by coordinating the sorting and storing of food donations and he helped them move more than 10,000 pounds of food during his visits.

In coming up with a long-term response to help our neighbors to the north, it was decided that we’d continue to process their food donations. However, it made more sense to do so in our warehouse where we have more space and volunteers. This change has allowed us to increase efficiency significantly. Dan shared, “We are learning from each other new and different ways to work with food donations.”

Four months have passed since the fires. The food banking community is a tight one and we are happy to help in times like these. The headlines might have faded, but we know the need for food has not.

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