Category: Food Bank Life

Food for Mendocino and Lake County Fire Evacuees

August 1, 2018

When disaster strikes, you can always count on the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to lend a hand. In the case of the Mendocino/Lake County Complex Fires, it’s not just a hand we’re lending – it’s multiple pallets of emergency food and water for fire evacuees.

Our Food Resources team has been monitoring the situation, and when contacted by our friends at Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB), we leaped into action – assembling ten pallets of emergency water, easy-open food pouches, and ready-to-eat food. This week, emergency food supplies from our Food Bank warehouse will help REFB restock its rapidly-depleting emergency food inventories.

“We are once again saddened by the news of these fires, but we are glad to be a part of the Food Bank regional network so that we can help out, even from afar,” said Barbara Abbott, Director of Food Sourcing and Allocation at San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “Our hearts and thoughts are with our Northern California neighbors whose homes and lives have been damaged by the fires.”

Because of the generous support of our donors, our Food Bank collaborates year round with other Food Banks around the region – and across the country – to prepare for and respond to disasters.

TAKE ACTION

  • Get updates and stay connected with news about how San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is supporting the wildfire recovery efforts by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Make an emergency plan with your loved ones so you know what to do when disaster strikes. Visit www.readymarin.org or www.sf72.org for information and useful guides to help you get prepared.

NOTE: At this time, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is not accepting donations of food, water, or other supplies for the fire relief effort.

Miyuki’s Story | Food is Life

July 24, 2018

If you’re going on appearances alone, then there is little way that you would know all the hardships Miyuki and her family have experienced in recent years.  The smiling, bespectacled woman was busy picking up a week’s worth of groceries at the Food Bank’s Health Children pantry at Bessie Carmichael Elementary School in the South of Market neighborhood when she recalled the past seven years of her life.

Her troubles really started in March of 2011 when a 9.1 earthquake, and resulting tsunami, caused widespread damage in her home country of Japan, including the failure of the nearby Fukushima nuclear power plant.  Eventually, four of Miyuki’s friends would die of cancer in their 30’s – she believes they all are related to the radiation.  In an effort to protect her infant daughter, Miyuki and her husband fled to the United States.

A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE

They settled in Oakland, but soon after, they lost everything when their apartment building burned to the ground.  Homeless, and staying with various friends for about two years, fate finally smiled on Miyuki’s family in the form of an affordable housing unit that opened up in San Francisco.

It is here where they are starting fresh, but times are still tough. Miyuki’s husband works construction, and she picks up freelance work, but mostly she cares for her daughter. “We can’t afford babysitters, and it’s my job as her mother to take care of my daughter.”

FOOD BRINGS HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

She says the food pantry at her daughter’s school helps her so much. “We’re broke, so I cook whatever I get and use everything,” she says.

Miyuki recently made oat bar snacks for her daughter’s classroom, using mostly items that she picked up at the pantry.  “The kids loved them – they grabbed me and asked, ‘how did you make that?’ It made me happy. I see a lot of families at the school struggling to eat healthy food which is why it’s great that the pantry has so many fruits and vegetables.  Food is life.”

LIVE YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW

What most inspires her is to see the other families in line who are also struggling, but doing what they can to make sure their children are well-nourished.

“The world is a mess right now. But it doesn’t matter where you live, you have to live your life right now and appreciate what you have and remain positive. The Food Pantry is a really positive place, and I hope people keep donating to feed people like us. I appreciate it so much, and it brings so much happiness to low-income families – particularly the kids.”

If you wish to help families like Miyuki’s please consider a donation to the Food Bank today.

“Game-changing” Expansion in Marin County

March 23, 2018

It’s no secret that the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is constantly on the lookout for new ways to expand in order to feed more of our neighbors in need.  We took one giant step in that direction with the purchase of a large warehouse in San Rafael in January 2018.

“This new facility is a game changer for us,” said Executive Director Paul Ash. “For several years, we have been looking for additional warehouse space that would enable us to continue growing our operations and serve even more neighbors in need. This new facility will enable us to do just that – to increase our food distribution, add more services, and engage with more Marin residents who wish to volunteer their time in our warehouse.”

Room to Bloom

The new building is 38,000 square feet, about three times as large as the Food Bank’s old warehouse in Novato.  It includes a vast, wide-open warehouse, plus ample office space for the Food Bank’s growing staff and programs.

The Food Bank will move out of our leased facility in Novato at the end of March. Our Marin Shop Floor, where partner agencies visit to pick up fresh produce and groceries, will be up and running in the new warehouse in early April. In a relatively short time, the Food Bank expects to increase services and food distribution in Marin through the new facility.  Another exciting benefit is considerably more space for volunteers and community events.

Marin Volunteer Program Temporarily Suspended

The only interruption expected by the Food Bank during the transition to the new space will be a temporary pause in the volunteer program in Marin.  “We are already in the process of constructing a Volunteer Welcome Center and work space in the new building,” said Volunteer Services Manager Cody Jang.  “We hope to invite all of our dedicated Marin volunteers – along with hundreds of new volunteers – into our new building in 3 to 6 months.”

Get the latest updates on Marin volunteering by joining our Marin Volunteer email list – click here to subscribe.

You can count Food Bank Board Member and Marin resident Chef Tyler Florence among those excited by all the possibilities.  “One of my goals is to reach out to more young people, and really expose them to the issue of hunger in Marin County,” Florence said while touring the new facility. “I envision school kids taking field trips here, volunteering their time, learning and immersing themselves in the fight against food insecurity and food waste in their communities.”

The building was previously owned by Food Bank supporter who not only sold the property at a favorable price, but who also made a generous donation to help facilitate the sale.  Ash says that kind of generosity helps fuel the Food Bank’s mission to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin.

“We’ll need more of that kind of generosity to really feel the impact that a building like this can provide,” he said. ” Right now, we need to make $2 million worth of upgrades to get the new facility  ‘Food Bank Ready.’ We will launch a capital fundraising campaign soon and asking the community to come together, give, and help make this dream property a reality property.”

Food Distribution Uninterrupted During Move

The good news is that even though the Food Bank is transitioning out of the old building and moving into the new building, services to Marin residents will not be impacted.  Our Operations team will still be hard at work, as usual, building orders for the nearly 50 pantries operating in Marin, with the San Francisco team filling in when needed.  The last time the Food Bank expanded was in 2011 when the San Francisco Food Bank merged with the Marin Community Food Bank.  Since then, the amount of food distributed in Marin County has nearly tripled, from 2.1 million pounds to 6.1 million pounds.

Hunger in Marin

In spite of the phenomenal growth and success that the Food Bank has achieved since 2011, there still remains a substantial unmet need in Marin. The latest data from the Food Bank’s Missing Meals Report shows that Marin residents missed out on approximately 9 million meals in 2015, a significant meal gap that persists even with the food provided by government programs and nonprofits like us.

Media Coverage

Click here to check out all the local news coverage generated by the purchase of this our new building.

 

Nana’s Pecan Pie Recipe

December 18, 2017

This pecan pie recipe is a holiday favorite from Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash’s “Family Cookbook.”  It’s from the kitchen of Paul’s  mom, Lenora Ford Ash, affectionately known as”Nodie” and “Nana” to her family.

Nana (right) with her husband and grandchildren. 

Paul and his family always look forward to sharing this scrumptious pie.  We encourage your family to try it this holiday season, too!

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp. butter (unsalted)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3/4 c. granulated white sugar
  • 3 large eggs, beaten well
  • 2 cups dark corn syrup
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 1 nine-inch pie shell, unbaked

 

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Combine ingredients and mix well.
  • Pour into unbaked pie shell.
  • Bake for 45 minutes, until firm.

Enjoy!

Want more recipes? Sign up for our eNewsletter and get our favorite recipes delivered right to your inbox with monthly Food Bank news.

Letter from Paul Ash | Moving Forward, One Year Later

November 3, 2017

It’s like clockwork. Every year, as the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank transitions out of summer and in to fall, the energy changes around here. It’s the countdown to the holidays – our busiest time of year. Some people call it our “Super Bowl.” And like the big game, this time of year brings out a lot of nerves, but also our best effort.

We’ve been nourishing our community for 30 years now, but it’s still wonderful to see the determination ramp up even higher as our drivers, pantry staff, and coordinators work extra hard to fight hunger when the stakes are highest.

But this time around it feels like there’s even more at stake. This holiday season, many of the already-struggling families we serve are now facing the possibility of changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP or food stamps). The types of cuts to SNAP, being discussed by Congressional leaders, would cause mayhem for food banks around the nation. Many of our participants are also very anxious about the potential loss of healthcare coverage as threats to the Affordable Care Act continue.

Our region has also suffered through some of the most devastating wildfires in California’s recorded history. Thousands of people in the North Bay have been displaced from their homes, and desperately need help to get past the roughest stretch of their lives.

There is a rawness about the issues we face in 2017. But instead of cowering as this gigantic wall of adversity appears in our midst, we are doing the opposite. We are meeting the challenges with more verve than ever. We are mobilizing – and doing so with many partners – because we know we can’t do this alone.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank continues to be a voice for food safety-net programs in the halls of government in Washington, Sacramento, San Francisco and Marin Counties.

We are also extremely busy on the food side of things, assisting with disaster relief efforts – not just with the North Bay fires, but also in Houston, Texas following the massive destruction left behind by Hurricane Harvey. Numerous San Francisco-Marin Food Bank employees have traveled to both locations and put in long hours because it was the right thing to do.

At the same time, we’re keeping our eye on the prize by providing nutritious food every week to 30,000 families in San Francisco and Marin. We also continue to innovate, introducing new and exciting programs that are already expanding our reach, and helping to feed even more neighbors in need.

We’re feeding people like Heather Crossen, who starts her delivery-driver job before the sun comes up, then comes home to care of her two young children while her fiancé goes off to work two different jobs.

We’re helping seniors like Betty Ann Kirkpatrick, a 94-year-old widow who has outlived her husband by 35 years. She could never have done so without food assistance from her neighborhood pantry. As someone with a fixed income, she continues to live an active life with dignity because of the healthy food she receives every week.

This all brings us back to the here and now. The holiday season is upon us and with so much at stake already, the comfort and welcoming of a shared holiday meal for neighbors in need is going to mean even more. To me, it’s simply unthinkable for one of our neighbors to go hungry – especially at Thanksgiving – especially in a community as thriving as the Bay Area.

If you want to share the holiday spirit, here are three ways to help nonprofits that serve our community: consider a cash donation, sign up for a volunteer shift, or lend your voice as an advocate or ambassador for the cause. These are the best ways we know to make all our communities healthier and stronger.

Sincerely,
Paul Ash
Executive Director
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

 

We Rise to the Occasion

October 27, 2017

We at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pride ourselves on helping out whenever and wherever we’re needed. When called, we rise to the occasion. Little did we know that our mettle would be tested by multiple disasters in a matter of weeks.

In the aftermath of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Harvey, we dispatched food, resources and employees to assist the Houston Food Bank.  Then, about a month later, when massive wildfires broke out in Sonoma and Napa counties, we heeded the call for help by sending fork lift drivers and warehouse experts to help our sister food bank manage a huge influx of food donations.

And because disasters don’t end when flood waters recede or flames are extinguished, a second wave of employees – most volunteering their own time — have travelled to help food banks and residents in affected areas to recover.

Rebuilding in Houston

Program Manager Berkeley Adams recently wrapped up a two-week stint in Houston where she put her knowledge of establishing new pantry partnerships to work.

“Houston’s network of food distribution locations suffered a huge blow from ‘Harvey’, mostly from all the flooding that occurred,” she said.  “I was brought in to assist their team in building new community partnerships and build new pantries in  neighborhoods that were most affected by the storm. We spent a lot of time identifying the best locations for outreach. After that, it was going door to door and cold calling to local churches and nonprofit agencies people.”

Giving a lift to Santa Rosa

Rich Faafiu is one of several operations staff members who have been pulling long shifts driving a forklift at the Redwood Empire Food Bank since the Tubbs Fire leveled entire neighborhoods in Santa Rosa. He says the biggest challenge is maneuvering all the donated food that continues to pour in from a generous public.

“I met a woman who relocated to Ohio after living in Santa Rosa for many years,” Rich said.  “As soon as she heard about the fires, she jumped into her pickup truck, drove all the way here, picked up a pallet full of water from Costco and delivered it to the Redwood Empire Food Bank warehouse.  That kind of response gives me chills, and energizes me to keep working long hours to help the great people of Sonoma and Napa counties.”

Helping victims access CalFresh (food stamps)

In late October, several members of our CalFresh (food stamps) outreach team were dispatched to Sonoma and Napa counties to help fire victims enroll in the Disaster-CalFresh program, which provides a month’s worth of food stamps benefits to low-income families and individuals who were impacted by the fire. The team visited evacuation shelters, churches, and community centers, hoping to enroll as many victims as possible.

Program Manager Francesca Costa said, “These wildfires have been devastating for so many in the North Bay, but the community’s grace and resilience is beyond inspiring.  We hope that connecting folks affected by the disaster to D-CalFresh will mean they have one less thing to worry about during this difficult time.”

“Helping is what we do best, and we will continue to answer the call when disasters strike,” said Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash. “We’re all one big family and survive by having each other’s backs. After all, one day we will be on the receiving end of one of these life-changing catastrophes, and will be the ones needing help.”

For more on our disaster response, check out our earlier blog posts on the North Bay Fires and Hurricane Harvey.

 

 

What is “Food For All”?

October 26, 2017

At the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, we believe in “Food For All” – that everyone in our community is able to obtain enough nutritious food to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families.

“Food For All” means our neighbors in need can get enough food, not only so they can tackle life’s many challenges, but also the nourishment that enables them to thrive and grow.

The opportunities and success that good food makes possible are highlighted in our Food For All advertising campaign. Keep an eye out for our Food For All ads on buses, billboards, street pole banners, and transit stations across Marin and San Francisco.

The ads feature the supersize smiles Food Bank staff, volunteers, and pantry participants, coupled with words that express what’s possible when everyone in our community has enough food to eat:  Strength, Hope, Courage, Health, Love, and Community.

Thank you to our wonderful partners for their contributions to our Food For All campaign:

  • Skona Advertising for designing this beautiful campaign
  • Photographer Peter Prato for capturing the amazing smiles and strength of the staff, volunteers, and participants
  • GreatKolor for securing free media, printing and installing the ads

Feeling inspired? Make a donation now if you believe in Food For All.

We can’t do it alone. Our visionary goal to end hunger can only be achieved by mobilizing the caring, giving power of our community.

Food Bank Response | North Bay Fires

October 11, 2017

Updated Sunday, October 15

As massive wildfires continue to decimate the North Bay, causing thousands of people to flee their homes, Bay Area Food Banks are responding. We have been working together all week to provide emergency food assistance to displaced neighbors. Our hearts and thoughts are with our North Bay neighbors who are seeking support.

Need food? Marin food pantries welcome fire evacuees: If you or someone you know in Marin has been impacted by the wildfires (and is not already receiving meals from an evacuation center), food is available from the Food Bank’s pantry network. Click here to use our Food Locator tool to find weekly food pantries that are open in Marin. To help individuals and families recover, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is making emergency food assistance available to evacuation centers and encouraging new participants to enroll at our weekly pantries.

Want to help? Monetary donations are the most effective way to assist right now.  

> Donate here to support Redwood Empire Food Bank,which is in the middle of the disaster zone, serving Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties. 

NOTE: At this time, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is not accepting donations of food, water, or other supplies. Get updates and stay connected with news about how San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is supporting the wildfire recovery efforts by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

How San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is supporting relief efforts

In times of emergency, Food Banks play a key role as “second responders,” providing food and water in the immediate aftermath of disaster, as well as longer-term food assistance as neighbors rebuild their lives.

At the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, our Food Resources and Operations teams sprang into action early last week, assembling 12 pallets of shelf-stable snack items, drinks, and peanut butter. These ready-to-eat foods are being delivered to shelters that are housing people displaced by the fires.

On Tuesday, we moved those pallets of food to our Marin warehouse, which is much closer to the fire lines, and much closer to the people who need it. Within hours of arriving in Marin, two pallets were delivered to an evacuee shelter in San Geronimo Valley in West Marin County, helping 30 people who were forced from their homes the day before. Other shelters are opening daily, and our emergency-relief food is close by, ready to be shipped out as soon as it’s needed.

This weekend (October 14-15), we are providing food for breakfast for 400 evacuees at the Marin Civic Center evacuation shelter. The 11 pallets of food delivered today include cereal, peanut butter, jelly, beverages, apples, and pears.

Our team has also delivered a truckload of food and water to the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB), which is in the middle of the disaster zone, serving Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties. We have also sent four of our skilled forklift operators to help out at the REFB warehouse this weekend. Four members of our warehouse team – Rich, Steve, Leonardo and Carl – will travel to Sonoma County to provide assistance.

In the news, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank was featured on KTSF-Channel 36 TV (Chinese language). Click here to view the 3-minute segment; we are mentioned at the 1:43 mark.

 

2017 Community Partner Honoree | Gary Maxworthy

September 19, 2017

After spending much of his adult life leading a Bay Area-based food distribution company, Gary Maxworthy suffered through a tragedy.  It was 1994, he was 56 years old, and his first wife died.  As the grief slowly began to subside, Gary’s three children came together and suggested a change.  They wanted him to do something with his life that would strengthen his community.  Gary agreed and soon joined AmeriCorps as a VISTA volunteer. His first and only assignment was with the San Francisco Food Bank. His mission: to think of ways to address the growing problem of hunger.

This was at a time when food banks were distributing mostly boxed and canned non-perishable foods.  Gary had an inkling of an idea that not only would increase the amount of food we distributed, but also to provide tons of fresh, healthy produce for our participants.  He started reaching out to his old food distribution contacts – growers and packers up and down California – and asked if they would be willing to donate their extra produce to the Food Bank.  The initiative was called Farm to Family.

Eventually the idea took off.  Now, nearly two decades later Farm to Family serves a statewide network of 43 food banks, providing 180 million pounds of fresh produce every year.  Six-hundred thousand Californians are nourished by this food every week.  Just last year, Farm to Family delivered its one billionth pound of fresh produce!

While Farm to Family would be enough to make someone a “Food Hero,” Gary went beyond all of that.  He has been revered for his innovative spirit, his leadership, and his mentoring of Food Bank employees.

Gary announced his second retirement earlier this year, but before he could ride off into the sunset, he was chosen as the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s 2017 Community Partner Honoree for his incredible legacy and contribution to food banking, not just locally, but around the nation.

Watch Gary’s tribute video above.  And listen to Gary, in his own words, in this recent KQED Perspectives piece.

Responding to Hurricane Harvey

September 6, 2017

Food Bankers know that our primary task – today and every day – is to help hungry people get enough to eat.  Most of the time, we focus on neighbors close by – people living in our city, county or region. But during times of disaster – like Hurricane Harvey – making nutritious food available to all who need it crosses county lines and even state lines.

As Hurricane Harvey pounded southeast Texas, we at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank were eager to help. With flood waters receding, thousands of people who lost their homes and most of their belongings are now in need of food.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is responding by sending both food and staff to Texas. As a member of Feeding America, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is part of a national network that provides assistance to food banks impacted by natural disasters.

Food Bank Staff Head to Houston

Associate Director of Operations Geno Geerlof departed yesterday, and Director of Food Sourcing and Allocation Barbara Abbott will head to Texas on Sunday. They will assist the Houston Food Bank with the massive food sourcing and distribution efforts now underway, helping provide food and water to thousands of people impacted by the storm and its aftermath.

The response from the community has been overwhelming – the Houston Food Bank is receiving as many as 120 truckloads of food every day.  They are operating 24/7 to receive donations and get them out into the community as quickly as possible.

Barbara is excited and ready for the challenge. “I imagine I’ll be looking at very long hours, and no days off while I’m in Houston, but I’m ready to help in any way I can,” she said.

40,000 lbs. of Food and Water 

In addition to sending personnel, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is also gathering food and water for relief efforts. We have teamed up with two other Bay Area food banks (Alameda County Community Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank in Santa Clara) to provide foods requested by the Houston Food Bank.  This week, we will ship more than 40,000 lbs. of peanut butter, granola bars, bottled water, crackers, canned meats and veggies, instant oatmeal, and other ready-to-eat foods.

Want to help Hurricane Harvey survivors and food banks in Texas?  At this point in the disaster, monetary donations are the most effective way to provide support. Make a donation now at FeedingTexas.org.

Check out recent media coverage about our efforts to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey: