Volunteers Needed for KCRA Kids Can Food Drive!

Volunteering with the Elk Grove Food Bank is always fun and rewarding, and there are a lot of opportunities!  If you are able and willing to help out with your local community, check out our latest opportunity for volunteering.

WHAT:  Pickup trucks and volunteers needed to pick up boxes of canned food for the KCRA Kids Can Food Drive.

WHEN:  Any time during November 5 - November 30 (excluding the week of Thanksgiving.) Volunteer as much or as little as you like!

WHERE:  Pick up boxes from local schools, then deliver them to the Elk Grove Food Bank at 9820 Dino Drive, Suite 140, Elk Grove, CA 95624.

CONTACT:  Jean Sadler - jean8709@gmail.com

The Annual KCRA Kids Can Food Drive has been a part of the Elk Grove Food Bank for over 25 years.  It is by far our largest food drive, collecting upwards of 1000,000 cans annually!

In order to make this happen, we need a team of volunteer to pick up boxes from local schools and deliver them to the food bank.  If the school has a load larger than will fit in a pickup truck, a 2nd or 3rd truck will also be there.

We would love to have you be a part of this drive!  Even if you could only do a couple of schools, every bit helps.

Please consider helping us this year. Thank you!

The Food Bank is looking for a Part-Time Delivery Driver. If you meet the criteria and are interested in applying, please contact the Food Bank at (916) 685-8453.

Description:  The Driver is a fast-paced, dependable and hardworking individual who performs pickups, deliveries and warehouse tasks including loading and unloading trucks and ongoing inventory tasks such as sorting, arranging and restocking.

Classification:  Part-time; hourly that includes paid holiday and vacation

Reporting Authority:  Reports directly to the Operations Manager

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Scheduling all food pickups and deliveries
• Assists in managing food box production and stocking shelves
• Maintains appropriate records and client confidentiality
• Daily interaction with vendors
• Performs other duties as assigned

Desired Qualifications:

• Valid CA driver’s license and clean DMV record with no accidents or violations
• Firm understanding of driving, warehouse and equipment safety
• Ability to use material handling equipment in a safe manner
• Ability to organize product flow and storage to maximize space efficiency and maintain safety standards
• Good oral, written and organizational skills
• Timely and dependable with positive attitude, enthusiasm and flexibility
• Ability to work with clients, vendors and coworkers in a patient, respectful manner
• Ability to represent the Elk Grove Food Bank Services in a professional manner

Education/Experience:

• High school diploma
• Forklift certified
• Basic computer skills

Volunteers Needed!

Put Your Hands & Heart to Work

The EGFBS Clothes Closet has a need for volunteers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This clothing program offers men, women, and children to select clothing items when they pick up food services. 

If you have one day a week, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and enjoy working with others, we hope you'll consider applying. For Volunteer applications, Click Here. 

Volunteers are Love in Motion

Volunteers Gave the Food Bank Some Love

On Saturday, April 25, 2015, 40 volunteers cleaned 5 storage containers and sorted clothes at the Food Bank Clothes Closet location on Williamson Drive.  The place looks great thanks to the wonderful volunteers who gave more than 200 volunteer hours!!

So handy!

Cathy O'Neil - founder of the EGFBS Clothes Closet and former Board member

Linda Strom - co-director of EG WINS 

Hard working Volunteers sorting.

Super Sorters!

Many hands make work light.

More Super Sorters!

We know you have busy lives, so we REALLY appreciate you taking time to help us get organized!

Curiosity Films Teams up to Help the Elk Grove Food Bank

Curiosity Films Teams up to Help the Elk Grove Food Bank

Have you heard of Curiosity Films?  Curiosity Films is a student-inspired, teacher-directed studio for student filmmakers in grades 3-6 participating in the Foulks Ranch Film Academy.  Jim Bentley is the Director of Curiosity Films and a school teacher at Foulks Ranch Elementary School. 

Check out this video, created by the students, with Sam Fine and Joel Yu.  "Writing of script was completed by Sam on his own with some peer revision and final teacher approval. This was part of a project looking at food waste and hunger in our community. 

So what are you waiting for? Helping is easy and fun to do!"

Thank you students, for caring about the Elk Grove Food Bank and the community you live in.  

Maybe we all can help the students. Here are their two Wish Lists: Amazon Marketplace and B&H Supplies.  With these items they can make more and better videos!

A Sincere Thank YOU from the Elk Grove Food Bank

Although the reasons for hunger are complicated, feeding a family or individual in need is not. Donations of food and funds are vital to the Elk Grove Food Bank Services and comprise 80% of our total resources.  We are providing more meals than ever imagined, especially to seniors and children!  Without the support of hundreds of donors blessing us with their gifts, many plates would be empty at the holidays and throughout the year...Over the past six months we have seen a 25% increase in the number of individuals and families who use our services. Every month, more than 4,300 of our neighbors rely on us, a number that continues to rise. Eighty-seven percent of our clients are Elk Grove residents and thirteen percent are from surrounding areas in South County.

Each year, hundreds of volunteers work tirelessly at the Food Bank because they believe in our mission.  Many volunteers value the hands-on experience of packing food boxes for seniors, delivering food to the home-bound medically fragile, stocking shelves, repacking bulk food, sorting fresh produce or packing mixed groceries that will be distributed to families and individuals.  Others give their time as volunteer members of our board and serve on fundraising events.

The Elk Grove Food Bank Services could not accomplish our community service without the tremendous support from so many; our board of directors, staff, our diligent network of partner agencies and grocery stores and our committed donors and volunteers. Your compassion and your gifts have enriched the lives of many!  

"Giving is an expression of gratitude for our blessings."

Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Thank You For Your Generosity!

Yesterday was a busy day at the Elk Grove Food Bank - and that's exactly how we like it. Due to the generosity of our community, volunteers were busy processing the food donated. Processing is a word that doesn't really cover what they do on a daily basis.

When canned and boxed goods are brought to the Elk Grove Food Bank, volunteers first sort through them to check the expiration date. Then, they put them on the appropriate shelf; that makes it SO much easier to fill boxes and bags to be given to our clients.

 

When vegetables and fruits are donated, a volunteer sorts them into family serving sizes. This time of year items are also being sorted into temporary boxes of Christmas dinner items (canned yams, cranberries, gravy, canned milk, pie filing, etc.

A sample of yesterday's bags included bananas, grapes, bag of oranges, peppers, apple, pear, green onions, pre-made salads, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts and a bag of tomatoes. As the bags are filled, they are placed on a shelf ready to be given to our next client at the window.

In the afternoon, Elk Grove Food Bank picked up a large donation.  It was wonderful! But we also know that with are numbers increasing (over 4,500 clients served monthly), we need to keep filling our shelves.

SO, thank you for your generosity!

P.S. We can always use plastic and brown paper bags.