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!

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

Elk Grove Food Bank Services Will Open on Saturdays

Beginning in April, the Elk Grove Food Bank Services (EGFBS) will be open on Saturdays thanks to a partnership with Elk Grove PATH-EG WINS.  Over thirty volunteers from the EG WINS Winter Sanctuary program have pulled together to lend a hand and make a commitment to help make this possible. In an effort to best meet the needs of families and individuals experiencing hardship, especially those who work during the day, EGFBS will now offer food and clothing on Saturdays starting April 5.

“Elk Grove PATH is excited to assist the Food Bank on Saturdays,” said Ed Kelly, one of the community leaders spearheading the new service day. “We think this will really help many working people who can’t come on a weekday.”

“Elk Grove Food Bank Services serves an incredible need, and I am thrilled to able to expand our service hours on Saturdays," said Marie Jachino, Executive Director. “We are extremely proud to partner with Elk Grove PATH/EG WINS supporting such a critical mission.  We don’t see an end in sight to the ever - growing levels of hunger.”

Since 1974 – “40 years,” the Elk Grove Food Bank Services has battled hunger and food insecurity in the Elk Grove and surrounding communities. The Food Bank provides food and others services to over 3,000 people each month.

When:  Saturdays starting April 5, 2014, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where:  9820 Dino Drive, Suite 140

            Elk Grove, CA  95624

More Information is available at www.elkgrovefoodbank.org.

MLK Inspires Service by Kaiser Employees

MLK Day at the Elk Grove Food Bank with Kaiser Employees

Bright and early this morning, the air was crisp and the people were energized!  Kaiser Permanente, which has been a strong supporter* of the Elk Grove Food Bank Services (EGFBS)for the past 10 years, organized 80 of their employees and family members to volunteer today on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  

Also on hand for support were Congressman Ami Bera, Mayor Gary Davis, and Food Bank Board of Directors: Jerry Braxmeyer, Betty Hall, Mark Jansson and Dean Scourtes. Marie Jachino, Executive Director, was thrilled to see so many smiling faces and helping hands.

When Congressman Bera (left) was asked what people would be surprised to know about the Elk Grove Food Bank Services, he mentioned the statistics quoted by Jerry Braxmeyer. One such statistic is the number of people served: 34,747. That is a huge number! And, when asked what motivates him to volunteer, he mentioned that although our community appears to be doing well, we still have groups of people, such as our seniors, who go to bed hungry.

Our next speaker was Mayor Gary Davis (right). He thanked Kaiser for organizing their employees to come out on this National Day of Service, also known as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. And, he thanked all of the Kaiser employees and their families for coming out to the Food Bank to help sort community donated food and clothing. As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work."

When Patricia Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Kaiser Permanante (left) was asked what people would be surprised to know about EGFBS, she said the wide variety of constituents that the Food Bank supports.  When asked what motivates her to volunteer, she indicated it’s the way she pays rent for living on this Earth. And, she loves helping people!

EGFBS is truly blessed to be able to provide essential services to help those in need here in our local Elk Grove community and surrounding areas.

EGFBS wants to thank everyone for getting up early to come out and spend their morning sorting donated food, bagging cat and dog food, sorting toiletries, and gently–used clothing. EGFBS is always looking for volunteers; do you have time on your hands?

  Mayor Gary Davis, EGFBS Marie Jachino, Congressman Ami Bera and Kaiser Senior VP of Kaiser Permanente.

Photo by Karla A. Haiberg

* In 2013, EGFBS was able to expand our Mobile Distribution sites to serve more "low income" seniors"; thanks to a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente.

Kaiser Permanente Volunteers at EGFBS

On Monday we had 68 volunteers from Kaiser Permanente at EG Food Bank.  These wonderful people took time from their holiday to help us prepare food and clothing for distribution to our neighbors in need. 

Here is a tally of what they did: 


1,200 lbs of dog food bagged
 
3,600 lbs of canned food sorted

 
3,300 lbs of canned food expiration dates checked

 
1,500 pounds of USDA bags made

 
1,200 pounds of baby food sorted

Totaling 10,800 pounds of food ready for distribution! 


200 men's and women's toiletry bags made

 
700 pieces of clothing sorted by size

 
200 pieces of clothing hung for the clothes closet


40 boxes made for families of 4
20 boxes made for families of 2

 
60 bags of perishables made


KCRA was here and had video of the workday on their broadcast that night.  Here is a link to the photos they have on their website. 


The work that KP did on MLK Day was as much as our volunteers prepare and distribute in one week!!!

 
Thank you volunteers of Kaiser Permanente!  Your generous support and dedicated work has put EGFBS ahead of schedule in preparing food and clothing for distribution.  We appreciate your help in serving those in need in the Elk Grove area.  

Run 4 Independence

Runners and walkers wait for the start of Run 4 Independence 5K and 10K race.  

 This year the Run was dedicated to our organization's co-founder, Bob Fossgreen.

KCRA covered our Run on their morning news.  Here is a link to the coverage. 

The start of the race was exciting, with all of the runners and walkers making their way through our beautiful Elk Grove Regional Park.  While I waited for the runners to circle the course, I met up with a few notable supporters of Elk Grove Food Bank Services.  

Board Member Mike Retzlaff and Assembly Member Dr. Richard Pan

Sheri, Chick-fil-A cow, Shania and Harley (the dog)

I went back to the finish line to try to catch some of our Board and staff who were participating in the Run.

Deb finished strong

I missed Board Members Dean Scourtes and Chris Vogt at the finish.  I also missed Operations Manager Travis Ham.  After the race, I caught up with other participants. 

Hailey, Evelyn and Braden

Gym Bratz:  Sherrie Prettyman, Deb Luck, Pam Thompson, Victoria Johnson and daughter

We thank our community for coming out early this morning to support Elk Grove Food Bank Services.

We truly appreciate the time and effort from our enormous group of volunteers; all have done their part to make this a spectacular annual event!

To our kind sponsors who have stepped forward in support of our Mission and helped us immensely with this Run, our biggest fundraiser of the year:  Thank you!

Thanks to all! 

Friday at Davis Ranch

We have been offered an opportunity we cannot let get away from us!  Davis Ranch, in the Sloughhouse area, has offered Elk Grove Food Bank Services the chance to glean what is left in their fields.  We can get some fresh, healthy produce to our clients, if we can get some volunteers to the Ranch this Friday, June 1, 2012.   

If you can help us, please contact Deb at 916-685-8453 or Travis at 916-690-8866. 

We need to be at the Ranch at 8:00 a.m.  Please wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, covered shoes and hats for sun protection.  Also bring gloves to protect your hands and/or manicure.  Bring water and expect to do alot of bending and lifting. 

Davis Ranch, LLC
13211 Jackson Road
Sloughhouse, CA  95683
Just 15 minutes north of Elk Grove. 

FreeBirds World Burrito @ EGFBS

Remember the Preview Party FreeBirds had that benefited EG Food Bank last weekend?  After that party, they came and worked in our warehouse.  Fifteen volunteers from FreeBirds helped us pack food boxes for our food distribution programs and sort clothes in our clothes closet.  

Thank you, thank you, FreeBirds World Burrito!  You have made a huge impact on our community.  We appreciate your support. 

FreeBirds World Burrito
8235 Laguna Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA  95758

When You Leave a Message

T was trying to retrieve the messages from our voice mail system. She was having a difficult time, "Could you listen for the phone number on this message, I can't make it out." I listened to the message, it was a client looking for information about our emergency food distribution. She desperately needed food and wanted a call back; but I could not make out her phone number. She said her name and number so quickly that both pieces of vital information could not be understood.

T was clearly frustrated. "We could have helped her. I would have called her back and helped her with information about receiving food." "Why did she say her phone number so fast?"

Our staff and volunteers at EGFBS are committed to helping those who are hungry and in need of assistance. Please, if you are leaving a message on our voice mail, speak clearly and slowly. We do not have caller id, and if we cannot understand your message, our caring volunteers cannot contact you.

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.

Wellness Bags

Angie, Wellness Bag Program Manager, Donna and Ken.

Donna and Ken are generous volunteers who deliver Wellness Bags to home-bound clients in the "Old Town" area of Elk Grove.



Angie and I quickly totaled up the numbers while the food and supplements were being loaded into volunteers' vehicles. Forty-five clients received Wellness Bags today; 36 were delivered by volunteers to home-bound clients.

The Wellness Bag is a supplemental food program designed to provide vital nourishment to individuals living with specific chronic illness or those with disabling HIV/AIDS. Our services are confidential and provided at no cost.

Clients receive non-perishable food bags along with fresh produce. Frequently, additional food items are available along with nutritional supplements and vitamins upon request. We also provide delivery to the home bound; and frozen meals for those who have been hospitalized.

The Wellness Bag program is available to clients in the Elk Grove, Laguna, and Wilton communities. However, clients residing outside this immediate area may be served only through referral by human service organizations, case managers, and medical professionals.

Applications are available at the Food Closet, or call (916) 685-8453 for more information.