Free Nursing Outreach Services at EGFBS Starting in July

EGFBS is the place to be on Fridays!

Starting July 18, 2014, Health Care for the Homeless outreach nurses will be at Elk Grove Food Bank Services.  The nurses will engage, assess, triage, treat, educate and provide preventative adult and childhood immunizations.  The nurses will also make efforts to connect clients to ongoing medical care and assist uninsured individuals with health care applications for Medi-Cal enrollment.  This service will be available, starting on July 18, 2014, every Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be available to “all” clients of the Food Bank.

Since 1988, Sacramento County has led a vital collaborative dedicated to better health for homeless individuals.  As a county government in California, Sacramento County is the organization legally mandated to provide health services to medically indigent adults meeting specific criteria.  Sacramento County is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive healthcare for this culturally diverse, low income population.  The County maintains an infrastructure for health services that includes primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, contracted specialty and hospital care, emergency dental, public health care and chronic disease management.  In 2013, the County served 8,270 homeless clients with 20,000 visits; 594 clients originated from the ZIP codes served by Elk Grove Food Bank Services. 

Established in 1974, the Elk Grove Food Bank Services is a critical component to the welfare of the Elk Grove community, providing food, clothing and resources to our neighbors in need.  The Food Bank receives funding from churches, individual donors, foundations, businesses, grants, local, and federal governments. The Food Bank serves roughly 3,500 individuals a month and 42,000 encounters annually.

What:              Free Outreach Nursing Services

When:              Starting July 18, 2014, every Friday

                        10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where:             Elk Grove Food Bank Services

                        9820 Dino Drive, Suite 140

                        Elk Grove, CA  95624

Contact:          916-685-8453

Celebrating 40 Years with 10th Annual Run 4 Independence

Are you Ready to Run?

Elk Grove Food Bank Services is marking its 40^th year of continuous service with the 10^th annual Run 4 Independence.  Start off Independence Week by joining runners and walkers to celebrate with the Food Bank on Saturday, June 28, 2014, beginning at 8:00 a.m.  

The event includes 5k and 10k courses that start in beautiful Elk Grove Regional Park and winds through the surrounding neighborhoods.  For kids 12 and under, there are half-mile and quarter-mile fun runs.

The Run features disposable chip timing for the 5k/10k; Age group awards; Team awards; Short-sleeve Run T-shirts; flat course; post-run food, entertainment and the Pride of Laguna Lions will serve their famous pancakes.

Proceeds from the Run 4 Independence will benefit Elk Grove Food Bank Services (EGFBS), a non-profit dedicated to alleviating hunger, develop programs to address food insecurity in our community; build client self-sufficiency; and provide an opportunity for volunteerism.  A portion of the proceeds will also support P.A.T.H (People Assisting the Homeless), a non-profit organization that assists and mentors the homeless in Elk Grove.  The EGFBS serves over 3,500 clients each month and has approximately 42,000 client encounters annually.  For more information visit: www.elkgrovefoodbank.org or to register:  www.run4independence.com.

Helping the Homeless of Elk Grove

You're Never Too Young...

Sophia Levasseur, a Joseph Sims Elementary School 4th grader, is learning at an early age, how rewarding volunteering can be.  After a busy week of school, violin and tap dance lessons and rehearsals for her upcoming performance in CATS by the River City Theatre Company, she makes time to help others. 

                              (Pictured with Sophia is her grandmother, Marie Levasseur,                                who has been a volunteer at the Food Bank since 2006.)

Recently, she prepared 34 hygiene bags for homeless clients of the Elk Grove Food Bank. Sophia carefully filled each bag with donated hygiene supplies.  She would like to continue filling bags at home. A variety of toiletry supplies, for example: toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and specific men's and women's items are needed to continue this project. 

The Elk Grove Food Bank and the homeless greatly appreciate Sophia’s efforts!  If you can donate toiletry items please drop them off at the Elk Grove Food Bank. 

The Food Bank is located at 9820 Dino Dr. #140, Elk Grove.

Moving to Grace House

It has been a lot of work for many groups and organizations and a long wait for our clients to be able to move in to the first transitional house in the Elk Grove area.  Now our homeless clients have a temporary home to use as they work their way out of homelessness and back into a more normal life.



Robert Cosgrove, Ed Kelly (PATH member) and Robert Cloud. 

EG Food Bank clients Robert Cosgrove and Robert Cloud stopped by to pick up groceries to stock their kitchen pantry in Grace House.  This first transitional home in Elk Grove will provide the formerly homeless Cosgrove and Cloud a stable environment in which to work on securing employment and returning to a more normal life.  Instrumental in Cosgrove’s and Cloud’s progress, PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) member, Ed Kelly, was present to provide transport for the men and their groceries. 

Cosumnes Firefighters' Association Sock Drive - 700 pairs of socks

Andy Shepard, from Cosumnes Firefighters' Association, delivered nearly 700 pairs of socks to Elk Grove Food Bank Services.  These socks are the result of their month-long Socks for the Homeless Drive. 

The back of Andy's truck was full of bags of socks. 

Joaquin and Dale helped to unload the socks

 

Andy Shepard, Cosumnes Firefighters Association; Marie Jachino, Executive Director: Susan Carmona, Clothes Closet Manager; Tressa Bader, Board Member; and Dale Williams, Operations Coordinator

Thanks to Cosumnes Firefighters Association and the communities of Elk Grove and Galt for their generous donations that will help many of our area's homeless.  Thank you also to Elk Grove Ford for sponsoring the event. 

Dustin's Donation

Dustin Samrow a local elementary school student collected blankets and toiletries to help local homeless clients from the Elk Grove Food Bank Services. Dustin also volunteered with the Christmas basket giveaway.

Yes, It Is True

After watching the 60 Minutes piece a couple of Sundays ago about Families Living in Cars, we have been receiving calls and visits from people inquiring about how our situation in Elk Grove compares to the one on TV. "We don't have a homeless population, do we?"

The awful truth is that we do have a homeless population in Elk Grove. Our October statistics show the ones that came to EGFBS for food assistance: 40 families, 73 individuals, 12 children. I have no statistics on those who did not visit EGFBS.

If you want more truth, read on.

• EGFBS distributes food and clothing to approximately 800 children a month.
• We also assist about 500 senior citizens with emergency food distribution.
• Concerned citizens contact us for help for families of children who steal food from the lunch line, because there is none at home.
• Our caseworker, Renee, is currently assisting a homeless client with a heart condition. Renee is trying to get this client into a shelter, but the waiting list is long everywhere.

Yes, it is true.

Another Sucess Story from Renee

Renee, our case worker, just let us know that one of the clients she has been working with has just found full-time employment! This client was homeless, sleeping in his car. Renee worked with him on his resume and helped this young client find work. This young client can now afford to rent a room and end his homelessness.

Renee works with clients on Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Call us to make an appointment, (916) 685-8453.

The Latest From Our Staff

Our clients' current needs were discussed at our latest Staff meeting. Our case manager, Renee, let us know that our number of homeless clients is growing steadily; she notes that the majority of her new clients are male. Rosa, our volunteer in the warehouse, reported that the supplies for our homeless clients were running low, especially the supplies for men.

Here is a newly compiled "wish list" from our discussion:

Towels, washcloths
Hair combs, hairbrushes
Deodorant, shaving cream (for men)
Can openers (manual-type)

If you are able, our clients would appreciate and make good use of these items. Thank you.

Messages from the Road

The following is part of an email received from our EGFBS RAGBRAI Team riding across Iowa to raise funds for our homeless population in Elk Grove.

John Platt, John van Doren, Arnie Vierra, Penny Pinard, Wendy Wyles and Frank Lucia landed in Omaha, Nebraska on Friday afternoon and arrived at their hotel in Counsel Bluff, Iowa around 3:30pm. An hour later, Dave Hieronimus and Norm Fadness arrived at the hotel after a two-day 27 hour truck ride with all our bikes and gear. Norm will be acting as our "equipment manager"throughout the 7 day 454 mile bike ride across Iowa starting on Sunday.

Saturday morning, seven of us took a leisurely 20 mile bike ride to stretch our legs and attempt to acclimate to the weather. Temperatures mid day have averaged around 90 degrees with humidity around 60%. Signs of flooding are all around us. The Missouri River is very high and running hard. There is anticipation of more flooding in the near future.

In the early afternoon, the eight of us piled in the pick-up truck (three of us had to ride in the back of the truck) and ventured down the freeway to Glenwood, 17 miles away. This will be the start of our bike tour. After buying some clothing/supplies and eating a light lunch we spent a short time in the quaint town of Glenwood and began our journey back to the hotel. It started to rain heavily for about 10 minutes which made for an interesting ride for Arnie, John Van Doran and Frank, who rode in the back of the truck, uncovered.

John Platt and I want to thank all those who have sent in donations or pledges for the homeless in Elk Grove. All pledges and donations will go directly to the homeless. It is our hope this bike ride will draw more attention to the needs of the less fortunate in Elk Grove.

We have found the people of Iowa to be very friendly and look forward to the first day of our bike ride tomorrow. It is expected to include 10,000 riders.

Our team would like you to know that if you would like to contribute and help our homeless population in Elk Grove, please send your check to:

Elk Grove Food Bank Services
ATTN: PATH
P. O. Box 1447
Elk Grove, CA 95759

Thank you.

Andy Moves In

For those who have been following the life of this young man, from the article in the Elk Grove Citizen, to the time spent with caring PATH volunteers and staff who assisted Andy and helped improve his circumstances. Andy has found a new home!

Andy has been homeless for three years. He did not want to rely on assistance. He wanted to work, get a good job and improve his life. With the help of the PATH (People Assisting The Homeless) program and a concerned community; Andy received help with his hearing problem, and help with repairing his vehicle. Determined to become gainfully employed, he worked on his resume, refined his interviewing skills and landed a great job. With further assistance from PATH, Andy has learned to save and budget his earnings, so that he can afford to rent a room and end his homelessness.


Andy is another shining example of what can be done with determination and hard work. We at EGFBS are so pleased about Andy's new start, that we had a small house warming "shower" to make sure he had the essentials for this new era of his life.

Methodist Hospital MRE

Got a phone call from Methodist Hospital, they had five to six pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) to donate to the Food Bank. After I picked my jaw off the floor, I wrote down their contact information so our Operations Manager could arrange to pick up their donation.

When the truck got back from Methodist Hospital, we looked in the back of the truck and it was full of cases of MREs. (I forgot the camera.) But that truckload was only half of their donation. The other half would be picked up the next day.

Eversafe Emergency Meal Kit

There is a Therma pouch for heating the food. We discovered three different type of entrees: beef stew, chicken noodle casserole, and spaghetti with meat and sauce. Mango peach apple sauce filled in the fruit food group and there were sweets for dessert: toffee cookies and an energy bar. Peanuts were included for a snack. The kit included coffee, cream and sugar; salt and pepper, utensils, a napkin and teeth wipes.

This complete Kit is perfect for distribution to our homeless clients. Many do not have access to a place to cook their food. What a treat for them to have a warm meal. Thank you, Methodist Hospital!

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

Supplies for the Homeless

In the way-back part of the warehouse, ingenious volunteers have carved out a storage area for items designated for Elk Grove’s homeless community. Thoughtful donors have brought in sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletry items for distribution to the homeless.

Did you notice the colorful storage bins in the first photo? Our very efficient volunteers have sorted travel-sized essentials in them. Ever wonder what to do with the travel-sized shampoos from your hotel stay? We have a bin for that and will distribute to those in need.