Winter Sanctuary

On Monday night, a group of volunteers met at First Baptist Church of Elk Grove (FBC) - in the kitchen. Their mission, to feed the homeless individuals hosted by FBC in their Winter Sanctuary. On the menu: spaghetti, salad, bread, fruit and dessert.


The ones who knew how, made a delicious sauce.


The other volunteers chopped veggies, served food, and other things.

We served approximately 120 homeless people, and 40 volunteers. We were all tired from cooking and serving so many, but all agreed that we would do it again.

Listen For It

Students from Cosumnes River College Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Club, with the generous and kind support of Frontier Communications, developed a radio ad for their food drive benefiting EGFBS. This radio ad will air on major radio stations during the month of February.

The message is to bring donation items to either Frontier Communications or Cosumnes River College.

Congratulations to the SIFE students for the opportunity to develop an advertisement that will be heard in a metropolitan area.

Thank you again to Frontier Communications for their continued, generous support of EG Food Bank.

Eat More Chicken

Our local Chick-fil-A on Bond Road is holding a benefit for EGFBS on Monday, February 28, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Twenty percent of all purchases during this time will be donated to the Food Bank. Remember to put your receipt into their donation box!

Thanks to the Cosumnes River College (CRC) Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Club who contacted EG Chamber Business Members and other local businesses on behalf of EGFBS and so far secured the support of Chick-fil-A.

Thanks you also to Chick-fil-A for their continued generosity to our organization.

WHAT: Fundraiser for Elk Grove Food Bank

WHERE: Chick-fil-A, Elk Grove Marketplace, 8430 Bond Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624

WHEN: Monday, February 28, 2011, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

***Turn your receipt in to the donation box and 20 percent of your purchase will go towards EGFBS. Dine in/Carry out only.

Homeless in Elk Grove

Does anyone see me?

Do I look homeless, God, I hope not. There is just so much humiliation I can take. But, for my children, I must.

I know we smell, its been days since we’ve changed our clothes, the storage is locked, late again. Can I do this? Can I last much longer, for the children, I must.

Does anyone see me?

I’m so cold. The security guard at Winco doesn’t care that we just bought some food, he wants us out. His comment of ‘you fit the profile’ hurt me to my core, even though I tried to laugh it off with, “you mean short and cute?” It’s raining and I’m so cold. Doesn’t anybody care?

Does anybody see me?

I can’t spend my check, I need it for the house that is coming soon. It just needs to be inspected, we’re almost there, hang on, for the children. But we’re so cold and the pits of our stomachs cry out for food. For the children, I break down and we eat, and I pay for one more night in a motel. It’s Christmas.

I call for help and everyone just gives me more numbers. Telling me to call the agency that just gave me their number. I think it makes them feel better. Is there anybody out there that cares?

It has been three months of feeling scared, hungry and alone. Hopelessness is creeping in. None of our friends want to answer my calls - they don’t want to say ‘no’. No, you can’t sleep on our floor one more night.

The searing pain in my back cripples me. The backpack seems to weigh more with each step. Memories of the night before, huddled with my little ones on a concrete floor in a park bathroom live on in the pain. Does anyone care?

Does anyone see me?

Hang on for the children, try and make life ’normal’, a game.

Their teachers don’t understand why homework is not turned in. They are punished because their backpacks are locked in storage. Don’t humiliate the children, their teachers can’t know. We’ll get through this, right?

As the rain beats down on us and the wind blows, I’m relieved. The kids can’t see my tears or hear my gasps for air.

Does anyone see me?

Does anyone care?

We do, if you need us, please call:

PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)

916-525-5285

Paint A Bowl Kick-Off

In preparation for our Empty Bowls fundraiser, the Paint A Bowl Kick-Off will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

These generous sponsors have arranged for bowl donors a special price to paint: $10

Color Me Mine!
7440 Laguna Boulevard, Suite 100
Elk Grove, CA 95758
916-714-4943

I Made It!
The Village Shopping Center
9667 East Stockton Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624
916-714-3225

Please make reservations, and join the creative fun. Painting will continue through March 4, 2011.

Empty Bowls

Our Third Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon will be held on
Saturday, March 12, 2011
at First Baptist Church of Elk Grove,
from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
There will be a live auction and raffle.
Tickets are $25 per adult, $15 per child.

If an Empty Bowls fundraiser is unfamiliar to you, here is how we do it:

• Local restaurants donate and serve their tasty, original soups. To round out the menu, other organizations have donated salad, bread and dessert.
• Beforehand, bowls are made and donated by local artists and community supporters. You can donate your original creation, visit local ceramic studios, Color Me Mine and I Made It! These generous sponsors let “creative donors” paint bowls for $10, a special reduced price.
• Ticket holders may select a bowl to take home on the day of the luncheon to remind them of the “Empty Bowls” that exist in our community.
• All proceeds benefit Elk Grove Food Bank Services.

Luncheon Tickets are available at:
Color Me Mine!
7440 Laguna Boulevard, Suite 100
Elk Grove, CA 95758
916-714-4943

Grocery Outlet
8517 Bond Road
Elk Grove, CA 95624-9457
(916) 714-6088

I Made It!
The Village Shopping Center
9667 East Stockton Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624
916-714-3225

WHAT: Third Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon

WHEN: Saturday, March 12, 2011, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm

WHERE: First Baptist Church of Elk Grove
8939 E. Stockton Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA 95624

COST: Tickets $25 per person, $15 per child