Mobile Pantry @ Franklin

 

Once a month, our clients in the Franklin area receive food and clothing through our Mobile Pantry program.  

Our clients who live and work in the remote part of Franklin do not have transportation to come to our warehouse on Dino Drive for emergency food distribution. 

Rosa and her team of volunteers assembled and transported food boxes out to Point Pleasant United Methodist Church for our monthly distribution. 

These photos are from our distribution a few months ago.  Rosa and I finally had some free time to sit down and figure out how to get the photos off of her phone and on to the blog.  We will have more photos of Rosa's work within our community now that we have the knowledge. 

Some of our youngest clients in the Franklin area.  So cute!

Starbucks Volunteers Continue Work at EGFBS

In the group photo (not in the correct order):  Heather, Taylor, Dave, Sam, Arlene and Stephanie. 

Every month for almost a year these dedicated volunteers from Starbucks come to help EGFBS in our warehouse.  These wonderful people assemble the food boxes that we transport to our clients who live in the far corners of Elk Grove:  migrant farm workers in the Franklin area, and low-income seniors at the Seasons apartments.  

This month they assembled 170 boxes in two hours!  Starbucks came to get the job done.  It was very difficult to get them to stop work for a moment for the group photo.

Thanks, Starbucks, for your dedication and service.  Your work helps us bring food to clients who live remotely and are without transportation to our facility on Dino Drive.  

If your group or business would like to take on a project, like Starbucks did, contact our volunteer coordinator, Deb, at (916) 685-8453. 

Mobile Pantry February Distribution

More news from our latest staff meeting. 

Rosa, our Mobile Pantry volunteer, reported that we served 146 people in the Franklin area with food and clothing.  These clients are seasonal farm workers and do not have transportation to access our services at our facility on Dino Drive. 

Here is a link to a posting about our distribution in Franklin. 

Rosa told us of the need for warm winter coats for these clients.  We distribute food and clothing to our Franklin clients on the second Friday of the month.  If you have an extra coat hanging around, please consider donating to Elk Grove Food Bank Services. 

Donations are cheerfully accepted on Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 9820 Dino Drive, Suite 140, Elk Grove, CA  95624. 

Thank you for supporting your local food bank. 


 

Mobile Pantry at Seasons Apartments

Jeff, Dale and Thieu unload food boxes for distribution.

Every third Wednesday, we pack up boxes of food and personal items and transport them to our clients at the Seasons apartments on Bilby Road.  We bring these items to serve our senior clients who are without transportation to our Dino Drive facility. 

Mauryne assists Rosa in keeping track of clients in the program,

and making reminder calls prior to delivery day. 

 Mauryne Dean is our volunteer contact at the Seasons.  Mauryne is a graduate of our Support Works program. Her mentor and other volunteers assisted her in her move out of a difficult housing situation and move into the Seasons. 

Mauryne told me of how she and her neighbors look forward to our deliveries.  "They forgot to put the Mobile Pantry on this month's calendar of events.  Everyone was concerned that your program was cancelled." 

Darrell makes sure that each food box contains fresh produce. 

Our caseworker, Renee, visited with our clients and let them know what kind of services Elk Grove Food Bank Services provides besides food and clothing.  Renee was so touched by the number of seniors and their interest in receiving help, that she will accompany the Mobile Pantry next month. 

I unloaded a food box to see what was in there. 

I also spoke with one of our clients, Rosemarie.  She said that she had been receiving our supplemental food boxes for about a year and was very thankful.  Rosemarie said, "The extra food makes a difference, I can make it to the end of each month."  She also appreciated the type of food she receives, "I don't cook.  The pots and pans are too heavy for me."

This month we included a "goody bag" full of personal hygiene products. 

 Our clients lined up to receive their food

The next time a looked up, the line was longer.

A grateful client slipped Rosa this thank you note: 

Dear Food Bank Staff,
It's never too late to "Thank You" for all your help!  I never take nothing for granted in life because life changes daily. 

These brown bag boxes are precious to me.  I'm usually eating the last of my reserves and then like magic the box arrives and its like a Christmas morning surprise.  Who would think that a roll of toilet paper would bring a smile to my face. 

Thank you from my heart.....

After the able-bodies clients come downstairs to pick up their food boxes, Jeff and Darrell made deliveries to the shut ins.  These two caring volunteers spend time with each client, making sure that things are ok. 

Rosa brought pet food for our clients' furry companions

This month we served 62 households (86 individuals), with two households on the waiting list.  Part of this program is funded by a grant from Kaiser Permanente's Sacramento Valley Community Benefit program. 

Elk Grove Food Bank Services

Mobile Pantry at the Seasons

Every Third Wednesday of the Month

Mobile Pantry in Franklin

We distribute food and clothing in the far southwest corner of Elk Grove every second Friday of the month through our Mobile Pantry program.  We go out there because our Franklin clients do not have access to transportation to travel to our Dino Drive facility.  Rosa and Dale loaded the truck with all the food and clothing to be distributed at Point Pleasant United Methodist Church.    

The boxes were packed with bread, cereal, cooking oil, pasta, canned veggies, fresh produce and cookies.  Rosa was so happy that she was able to gather enough packages of cookies to give our Franklin clients a treat.  

We filled the multi-purpose room with food boxes, clothing, books, specialty canned goods and additional produce.  Rosa arranged the tables so that our clients could take their time and look through and select what they needed.

Point Pleasant Church also provided our clients with some produce.  These bags contain potatoes and cabbage from the Church; with chicken and other commodities from our USDA distribution.  

 Each client signed in and verified the number of people in their family.  I heard many "ocho, " "siete," and "seis".  Our clients in this program have families that are larger than what some consider average.

 We served 28 families (141 individuals) last Friday. 

Rosa and the youngest client at Franklin Mobile Pantry.  

Many people help to distribute food to our Franklin clients.  Patricia Ramos is the volunteer coordinator, she keeps track of the clients in our program and enlists volunteers to help with the distribution.  Margarita Espinoza, Migrant Service Para-professional with the County, assisted our clients with the paper work.  Esther Figueroa, volunteer, distributes bags of food.  Don and Elsa Eliason, volunteers from Point Pleasant Church, provided carry-out service (Don) and informative workshops (Elsa). 

During our drive out to Point Pleasant Church, we were amazed how quickly Elk Grove changed from shopping centers and subdivisions to rural farmland. It was our first time driving beyond the skating rink in Franklin.  I did not realize that the United Methodist Church was located so close to I-5.  We could see the freeway just beyond the community garden (available for use by our clients) that is located on Church property.  

We enjoyed our time with our Franklin clients, although we do not speak the same language we were able to communicate with smiles and gestures.  We brought back with us gratitude from our isolated clients.  We look forward to serving them next month.

Mobile Pantry every second Friday at:
Point Pleasant United Methodist Church
3329 Point Pleasant Road
Elk Grove, CA  95757

Belated Thanks to Both EG Rotary Clubs

I found out at our recent staff meeting that I missed the huge donation by our EG Rotary Clubs. These generous organizations heard about the rising number of senior clients coming to our food bank. Upon hearing about some of the medical problems and mobility issues these senior clients have, they stepped up and donated $5,000 worth of Nutritional Shakes (Ensure), sugar-free gelatin and sugar-free pudding.

Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla Nutritional Shakes

Cherry Gelatin

Chocolate Pudding, yum!

This donation will help nourish our most fragile and vulnerable clients. Some are diabetic, others have mobility issues and cannot cook their meals. The products donated by the Rotary clubs are not the typical foods we receive from food drives, and are very expensive for us to purchase.

These products will be distributed in our Senior Brown Bag, Wellness Bag, and Mobile Pantry programs.

Thank you!

The Rotary Club of Elk Grove
P. O. Box 138
Elk Grove, CA 95759

The Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise
916-525-2485

Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Grants Program

We just received word from Kaiser Permanente that our proposed expansion of the Mobile Pantry program has been approved and funded. Now our volunteers can take food and clothing on the road to another venue for distribution. Those clients who are home-bound, isolated, or otherwise without transportation to and from our Dino Drive facility will be able to receive service from the food bank and clothes closet.

On behalf of the entire Food Bank family we want to thank Kaiser Permanente for the $15,000 funding for our Mobile Pantry Program. The Elk Grove Food Bank Services thrives because of gifts like these. We cannot accomplish our goals without the support of donors like Kaiser Permanente.

Award Winning People at EGFBS

Every now and then we need to brag about the incredible people involved at the EG Food Bank. Recently, the Soroptimists of Rio Cosumnes held a Salute to Women Luncheon at Palermo's in Elk Grove. Two women from EGFBS were recognized at the luncheon.

Tamara, a client of Support Works, received the Woman's Opportunity Award, given to a woman, head of household, going back to school to better herself. Tamara's story was told on a previous posting, Metamorphosis at Support Works.

Tamara is a shining example of what can be done with determination and guidance from Support Works. She has utilized the Job Readiness Training and Support Group components of Support Works and is steadily working towards being independent.

Rosa, a key volunteer at EGFBS, received the Women Helping Women Award. Rosa is a long-time daily volunteer at the Food Bank and has developed our Mobile Pantry program that serves migrant farm workers and their families in the Franklin area. When Rosa heard of the group of migrant farm worker families isolated, without transportation, poor and struggling to feed and clothe themselves, she jumped at the opportunity to serve them. The program has grown to serve 37 households, 237 individuals.

After each delivery of food and clothing to these Franklin clients, Rosa marvels at their polite, helpful, and grateful nature. They look out for their neighbors that have the greatest need -- each family holds back on the amount of food and clothing they receive, until everyone has been served. Then if there are leftovers, the ones with the greatest need come back for more. Working with these clients is a pleasure for Rosa, she enjoys her time in Franklin each month.

Mobile Pantry Christmas – The Celebration!

The spirit of goodwill this holiday season was shown on December 10 when the Food Bank distributed over 70 toys to the children of migrant farm workers. The toys were donated through the efforts of Triton Taylor’s Eagle Scout project “Tunes for Toys Concert” which was held in November. Rosa Avila, coordinator for the Mobile Pantry Program, and Ana Igareda, long time Clothes Closet volunteer, organized the event in Franklin. Point Pleasant Church, where the program is held each month, also donated blankets to all the families.

Some of the little ones were a bit overwhelmed with the activities and gifts.

After food boxes, clothing and Christmas presents were distributed, I noticed a father working with his little son, assembling a new toy. The little guy watched with eyes wide in anticipation and wonder as his Dad carefully worked. After a few minutes, his new toy was assembled and both father and son enjoyed their time together as they played.

We saw and felt the humble appreciation of our clients in Franklin. They showed us the caring they have for each other, by sharing the food, clothing and gifts they received. They knew the ones in their community who have the most need and shared what they could. It is always a privilege to serve these kind people in Franklin, we always leave with a full heart.

Mobile Pantry Christmas – More Prep Work

Our busy and super organized volunteers have been at work again. The presents they matched to each young child served by the Mobile Pantry program got wrapped and grouped by family. Each family’s presents are in these bags.

Our thoughtful volunteers did not forget the parents in their mission to bring a Christmas celebration to our Franklin clients. The Clothes Closet added some clothing for the parents. Most parents requested socks and underwear.

These Christmas presents will be added to the regular monthly distribution of food and clothing to our clients in the rural Franklin area.

Mobile Pantry Christmas

Busy volunteers matched presents to the requests of approximately 70 young children served by our Mobile Pantry program. The toys were donated through the efforts of Triton’s Eagle Scout project (see previous Tunes for Toys post).

These wonderful “elves” worked to match an appropriate toy to each child's age and gender.

The wrapped presents will be delivered with the monthly Mobile Pantry
delivery of food and clothing.

It is our hope to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to our clients in the Franklin area.