Parade of Lights

A group of creative volunteers transformed a pick-up truck and trailer into a magical parade float for Elk Grove’s Parade of Lights.


It was a wonderful way to inform the community about the need that exists here in Elk Grove and encourage the public to support their local food bank.

Kids Can!

One of our volunteers (see previous Un-sung Heroes post) just unloaded a truckload of canned food collected by Elk Grove High School for the Kids Can! food drive. He estimates he transported a total of 15,058 cans of food today.



Another volunteer transported canned food from Elk Grove Charter School .

It is through the work of dedicated volunteers like these, EGFBS can operate as your local food bank.

Thank you, Kids Can! donors, and thank you to our faithful volunteers.

Harvest Festival Food Drive

Gavin Olson, son of Board Member Jason Olson, at the 2010 Harvest Festival. This is the second year Elk Grove Food Bank Services has been the recipient of their Annual Food Drive at event.

O. C. Communications

Our long-time sponsors, O. C. Communications, scheduled a visit with us on Tuesday. We looked forward to touring our new facilities and explaining the operations and reach of our programs.

We saw our Support Works program in action. Our program manager explained the different aspects of Support Works: Job Training, Support Group (for women), and Parenting Classes. She also spoke about the program’s success rate and the introduced the qualified and devoted volunteers connected to the program.

Our warehouse area was filled with busy volunteers working to fill a record number of client requests for food and turkeys. They also saw our shelves nearly full of canned food. We explained that the majority of food drives are held in the fall, that these were the results of recent food drives, and that we hoped these stores would last until May 2011.

We made our way to the Clothes Closet to see clients selecting warm clothing and volunteers assisting them. We pointed out our “Career Corner” where clothing that is suitable for an interview or for starting back to work is kept.

After the tour, we were presented a very generous and unexpected donation. We wiped away our tears, and thanked O. C. Communications for blessing EG Food Bank Services with their faithful support.

Turkey Drive 2010 - The Results

We stood there on Tuesday afternoon, tired from the hard work of handling turkeys donated by the Elk Grove community. Our Operations Manager quickly added up the rough numbers, EG Food Bank distributed over 600 turkeys over three days.


The distribution started with a “soft” opening on Saturday with the help of MV Transportation and Grocery Outlet. Sixty Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes were distributed. On Monday we distributed about 260 turkeys. Tuesday we gave out roughly 170 turkeys. Approximately 110 turkeys were distributed through our Wellness Bag and Senior Brown Bag programs.

Turkey Drive 2010 broke last year’s records: the largest amount of turkeys donated and distributed.

Thank you Elk Grove for stepping up and supporting your local food bank.

Un-sung Heroes

There are ones that show up at EG Food Bank Services to work and to serve those who are in need. These volunteers are diligent in their effort and quietly work behind the scenes without recognition.

One of these volunteers transported all of the food collected at St. Francis High School (see previous post). It was a lot of food. It required the use of a big truck.

When asked if he wanted some type of recognition for the work he does for EGFBS, perhaps the name of his company in this blog. He smiled and said, “That is not why we do it.”

Thank you.

Tunes for Toys – The Wrap Up

Triton had a successful concert. See previous “Tunes for Toys Concert” post. Looks like Triton has huge musical talent and a faithful following. We are also impressed with his community involvement and his organizational skills to put on a concert to benefit the children in Elk Grove.

Triton delivered a SUV full of toys.

Congratulations on the completion of your Eagle Scout Project and thank you for including EGFBS in your plans.

Escape Salon and Spa Food Drive

Escape Salon and Spa, located at 4810 Elk Grove Boulevard, Suite 180, is offering a special during the months of November and December. All clients will receive a $5.00 credit on services offered at the salon, if they bring in one or more cans of food to be donated to Elk Grove Food Bank Services. Call (916) 691-0225 to make an appointment with one of their qualified staff.

We are thankful to Manager Kelly Wilson and staff for their kindness. It is great to receive support from our community.

Two Recent Food Drives

This is photo was taken in St. Francis High School gym. This is one amazing food drive! The students have surpassed the amount of food collected in previous years. Volunteers estimate they picked up and transported 66,000 cans of food. Our co-chairs of the Kids Can! food drive personally acknowledged the efforts of the students at St. Francis HS with a plaque presented at a recent Prayer Assembly.

Recently, the LDS Church held a food drive. They collected approximately 14,000 cans of food.

These are wonderful examples that demonstrate the power of individuals who assist in the mission of the Food Bank. We greatly appreciate the support of our many zealous promoters.

If You Need a Good Read

Right in our client waiting area, the Soroptimist International of Rio Cosumnes have set up a library with lots of fascinating books.


P. S. The beautiful, sturdy shelves in our library were contributed through a Boy Scout service project. Thanks, Scouts!

Turkey Drive 2010

This looks to be the most challenging and demanding Thanksgiving in our organization’s history. We have been collecting turkeys and the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner since the first of November.

Photo taken November 9, 2010

Our walk-in freezer is empty. We have lots of room for turkeys.

If you are able, please help us provide turkey dinner for local families in need. Your donation will help provide a holiday meal for which a family can truly be thankful, and count as one of their blessings.

EGFBS is open Monday thru Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to receive donations. (We will close on Thursday, November 11, 2010, for Veterans' Day.)

Thank you.

Tunes for Toys Concert

Triton Taylor's Eagle Scout Project is to help the EG Food Bank provide Christmas for needy children. He is having a concert at the Vintage Park Building on Saturday, November 6, 2010, 7 p.m. Price of admission is a new toy.

If you are interested in music for all ages, talented local musicians and/or helping Triton and EGFBS provide Christmas presents for local children, this sounds like a good way to spend a Saturday evening.

Senior Brown Bag

On the third Thursday of each month our volunteers distribute these boxes to seniors in the area that qualify.

These are the qualifications:
• Seniors age 60 and over.
• Residents of Elk Grove.
• Recipients’ income below established Monthly Income Levels

Contact EGFBS and find out if you qualify 916-685-8453.

This past month, we distributed 36 boxes.