Congressman Jared Huffman Visits San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

San Rafael, CA (November 5, 2020) — The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank will welcome Congressman Jared Huffman to its Marin warehouse on Saturday, November 11 during its weekly drive-thru food distribution. The Saturday distribution, which will serve 400 households, is one of several locations distributing food boxes from the USDA’s temporary Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is now serving 55,000 households per week, nearly double the number we served pre-pandemic. Scaling operations to meet this surge in demand would not have been possible without the support of our federal government through programs like the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CalFresh, Pandemic-EBT and other important food assistance programs. In fact, 40 percent of the food the Food Bank has distributed since the start of the pandemic has come from USDA programs, including Farmers to Families.

The Food Bank is grateful for the ongoing support it has received from Congressman Huffman and other elected officials. As the Farmers to Families program and other USDA food funding sources are set to expire at the end of the year, the Food Bank hopes Congressman Huffman and our California Congressional delegation will continue to prioritize essential food assistance programs.

SPOKESPERSON AVAILABLITY: Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Congressman Jared Huffman will be available for comment.

WHEN: 10:45 AM, Saturday, November 7, 2020

WHERE: San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Warehouse, 2550 Kerner Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94901

ON-SITE MEDIA CONTACT: Gunilla Bergensten, gbergensten@sfmfoodbank.org, (415) 767-8331

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. Before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 55,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s COVID-19 Response Programs at Risk

Decreased Volunteers Coupled with Increased Food Insecurity Threatens Food Bank Programs as Pandemic Wears On

 

SAN FRANCISCO (October 14, 2020) – A shortage of volunteers jeopardizes The Food Bank’s critical COVID-19 response programs. Over the past several weeks the Food Bank was only able to fill approximately 50% of its volunteer slots.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank continues to serve nearly double the households compared to before the pandemic. To meet the dramatic need, the Food Bank opened 29 emergency Pop-up Food Pantries and launched its new Pantry at Home program to deliver fresh groceries to seniors sheltering in place to protect their health.

It takes 2,000 volunteers per week – up from 1,200 pre-pandemic – to run these emergency programs.  Without more volunteers, the Food Bank may need to shut down or scale back some of these programs.

“Volunteers are the backbone of our operation, without them many families would be forced to choose between buying food or other essential needs,” said Cody Jang, Senior Community Engagement Manager, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “We desperately need volunteers to maintain these programs and continue to serve all our participants, especially those most impacted by COVID-19.”

While the Food Bank saw a sharp drop in volunteers in March due to companies and other organizations ending group volunteer outings, there was an immediate and overwhelming response from individuals in the community. Now, between pandemic fatigue, a phased re-opening in our counties, and the Food Bank’s additional programs is driving another sharp decline.

The Food Bank needs both individuals and organizations to sign up today and consider committing on a weekly basis. Families are also welcome. Volunteers as young as 15 may work at a Pop-up Pantry, in the San Francisco warehouse children as young as 11 on weekdays, eight on Saturdays and four on Sundays are welcome with their parents. At the Marin Warehouse, all volunteers must be at least 11 years old.

Safety of volunteers, staff and participants is a top priority. The Food Bank implements all CDC and county safety guidelines including requiring masks and gloves, conducting shifts outdoors where possible, encouraging social distancing, and frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces.

To volunteer visit: https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/volunteer/.

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. Before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 60,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Keely Hopkins, Communications and Social Media Manager

415-282-1900, ext. 292 | khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Data Shows Rising Food Insecurity

COVID-19 Hunger Report Demonstrates Surge in Demand

SAN FRANCISCO (September 10, 2020) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank releases its COVID-19 Hunger Report which looks at the rising food insecurity in our community.

Before the pandemic, one in five people was at risk of hunger in San Francisco and Marin. As the crisis has unfolded, the Food Bank has nearly doubled the number of households it serves to 60,000 a week. It is now distributing 54 percent more food per month than pre-shelter-in-place. The report also shows a correlation between the zip codes with the largest increase in unemployment claims and those where demand for Food Bank services spiked.

“The economic ripple effects of COVID-19 have only exacerbated the hunger crisis that already existed,” said Paul Ash, Executive Director, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “Historic levels of unemployment are driving many to the Food Bank for the first time. By delivering groceries to seniors and opening new Pop-up Pantries in neighborhoods with the greatest need, we are working to meet the sustained levels of critical need for food for in our community.”

In response to the pandemic the Food Bank raced to transform how it operates – creating new programming that had the health and safety of staff, volunteers, and participants in focus. It opened 28 Emergency Pop-up Pantries across San Francisco and Marin, started delivering weekly groceries to 12,000 seniors sheltering at home, helped thousands apply for CalFresh (food stamps), and advocated for P-EBT and other benefits.

September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide initiative to raise awareness around hunger in our communities. This report from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank demonstrates the urgent need to take action to ensure the most vulnerable in our communities can still put food on the table. Those who want to get involved can visit www.sfmfoodbank.org to learn how to volunteer, donate, or advocate.

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 60,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Keely Hopkins, Communications and Social Media Manager

415-282-1900, ext. 292 | khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

Bay Area families among many recipients of the company’s donation of 2.4 million servings of poultry across the West

 

WHO:	SF-Marin Food Bank and Foster Farms
WHAT:	SF-Marin Food Bank will receive a delivery of 117,000 servings of donated poultry from Foster Farms. The product will be distributed in the coming days/weeks to help feed local families impacted economically by COVID-19. Representatives from SF-Marin Food Bank will be on hand to speak to the area’s level of food insecurity and call for additional donations, volunteers, and support amid these unprecedented times.
WHEN:	Monday, April 27, 2020 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:	SF-Marin Food Bank
VISUALS:	Foster Farms semi-truck delivering more than servings of poultry SF-Marin team on hand for interviews and photo/video opportunities
QUOTE FROM FOSTER FARMS:	“Up and down the West Coast and in communities where we live and work, the economic effects of COVID-19 have been devastating,” said Foster Farms VP of Communications Ira Brill. “We are happy to support the important work our longtime food bank partners are doing to fight hunger during these uncertain times as they race to meet unprecedented demand for food.”

Background

Earlier this month, family-owned Foster Farms donated 120,000 servings of poultry to City Impact in San Francisco among the donation of 2.4 million servings of poultry to food banks and hunger relief organizations on the West Coast, and in Louisiana and Alabama. Truckloads of poultry are now being delivered or are en route to these organizations providing lean protein to families in need. Foster Farms maintains production facilities in California, Oregon, Washington, Louisiana and Alabama, and will be leveraging its resources to expedite relief efforts. The donations are a continuation of a decade-long commitment to fighting hunger and responding to community need in time of crisis. Foster Farms encourages others to join in its efforts by donating to their local food bank.

 

About the SF-Marin Food Bank

The SF-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in four neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 30,000 households count on us for food assistance. More than 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

About Foster Farms 

Since 1939, West Coast families have depended on Foster Farms for premium quality chicken and turkey products. Family-owned and operated, the company continues its legacy of excellence and commitment to quality established by its founders, Max and Verda Foster. Foster Farms specializes in fresh, all-natural chicken and turkey products free of preservatives, additives or injected sodium enhancers. Based in California’s Central Valley, with ranches also in the Pacific Northwest, the company’s fresh chicken and turkey are produced in or near each region served. Foster Farms also produces delicious pre-marinated, ready-to-cook and fully cooked products that meet the quality and convenience needs of today’s home cooks, retailers, warehouse clubs and foodservice customers. The company’s commitment to excellence, honesty, quality, service and people is a source of great pride, and, a longtime family tradition. For more information, visit www.fosterfarms.com.

Saturday, March 28 the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank will host its first-ever drive-through food pantry at its Marin warehouse. The pantry will allow us to distribute food with no person-to-person contact to support social distancing.

This pantry is an addition to the pop-up pantries we opened throughout San Francisco and Marin during the past two weeks. The food distribution at our warehouse, along with other pop-up food pantries, is intended to support those who are struggling to buy food due to a recent decrease in wages or hours, and those whose food pantries have closed as a result of COVID-19.

Date: Saturday, March 28

Pantry Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: 2550 Kerner Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94901

Media check-in: Please see Keely Hopkins upon arrival.

Anyone who is struggling to buy food is welcome to attend, no sign-up required. Participants will enter our warehouse via Glacier Point where they will be directed to a pickup location. They will then park their car, open their trunk and a box of groceries including fresh produce, protein and healthy grains will be placed in their trunk by a Food Bank staff member or volunteer. The car will proceed forward a few feet and the participant will then close the trunk before exiting back onto Kerner Blvd.

Anyone whose pantry has closed or who cannot afford food is encouraged to visit our food locator for the most up-to-date pantry information.

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home- delivered groceries to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 32,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

The Food Bank opens several pop-up pantries throughout San Francisco and Marin in order to meet the need for food in our community. This includes six pantries that opened this week – five in San Francisco and one in Marin – and seven additional pantries that will open next week.

 

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 more than 100 of the food pantries in our network of more than 275 pantries have had to close in recent weeks. To fill the gap and ensure our neighbors can still have access to healthy food, the Food Bank has been working hard to open interim pop-up pantries. We served more than 1,800 people in San Francisco just this first week and anticipate those numbers will continue to grow as we expand to new locations.

 

Most pantries will be located at schools that are offering to-go meals for students. All pantries will be open to anyone in the community, participants do not need to sign up or show ID. We will have bags of groceries available for all who need them.

 

Pop-Up Pantry Schedule:

*This schedule is subject to change as we continue to assess the need. Please check our website for the most up-to-date pantry information.

 

SAN FRANCISCO

• Monday: Bayview Opera House
• Tuesday: Cesar Chavez Elementary
• Wednesday: James Denman Middle School
• Wednesday: Rosa Parks Elementary
• Thursday: Francisco Middle School
• Thursday: Mission High School
• Thursday: Bessie Carmichael
• Friday: Lincoln High School
• Friday: APA Visitation Valley

 

MARIN

• Monday: Andrews Presbyterian Church
• Wednesday: Bayside MLK
• Thursday: Marin Community Clinic
• Thursday: San Geronimo Valley Community Center

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home- delivered groceries to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 32,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

 

San Francisco (January 17, 2020) MLK Day of Service is a popular time for companies and individuals to book volunteer shifts to give back to the community. Since 2013, the Food Bank’s volunteer shifts get booked early by companies and individuals who want to honor Martin Luther King’s legacy by providing employees an opportunity to give back to their neighbors in need.

“We’re happy to be open to provide volunteer shifts for community service opportunities on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. With 32,000 San Francisco and Marin households per week experiencing hunger, we can always use the extra hands to help our neighbors, said Cody Jang San Francisco – Marin Food Bank Community Engagement Manager.

WHAT: 100+ employee volunteers from Williams Sonoma, Slalom, and Faire packing fresh produce and bulk staples.

WHEN: Monday, January 20, 2020, volunteer shifts: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm and 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

WHERE: San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Warehouse, 900 Pennsylvania Ave. San Francisco, CA 94107

WHO: Press contact onsite: Pamela Wellner, Interim Manager, Media & Public Relations, 415-730-0105

San Francisco (December 18, 2019) The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank (SFMFB) is facing unprecedented challenges this year during the giving season. Increased pressure resulting from wildfire evacuations and power outages have made year-end giving to the Food Bank more urgent than ever. Currently, the Food Bank needs to bring in nearly a quarter of its annual budget before December 31.

For thirty-two years, the SFMFB has been working hard to meet the demand for food, now at 32,000 households a week, whether due to growing family expenses or from disaster relief. According to recent studies, one in five people is at risk of hunger in San Francisco and Marin counties.

Different dynamics have impeded contributions this year, including donations funneled to disaster relief in local communities experiencing hardship and federal tax code changes that disincentivize middle-class donors. “Compounded issues have affected our end of year giving, said Paul Ash, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Executive Director. We need to raise a significant amount of our annual budget in the last two weeks of the year, in order to fulfill our financial goals to meet the needs of our community.”

Available for phone and in-person interviews: Paul Ash, Executive Director San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Paul has led the SFMFB as executive director since 1989. Paul’s commitment to ending hunger in San Francisco has enabled the growth of the Food Bank to skyrocket from distributing just under three million pounds of food 30 years ago to about 48 million pounds this past year.

Pamela Wellner
Interim Manager, Media & Public Relations, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(cell) 415-730-0105, pwellner@sfmfoodbank.org

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 32,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

Giving Back on Thanksgiving: San Francisco – Marin Food Bank Open for Volunteers

SAN FRANCISCO (November 28, 2019) – For some, Thanksgiving is more than a good meal with family and friends, they choose this time to volunteer to help those in need. The San Francisco – Marin Food Bank is fortunate to host this community service and will be open from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day to provide a volunteer shift. This shift is already at capacity and provides an opportunity for media to highlight neighbors giving back to neighbors. The need to provide food to 1 in 5 people facing hunger in San Francisco and Marin is a big challenge, especially during the holiday season.

Who: Volunteers packing fresh produce and other food as part of community service
What: A 4-hour volunteer shift inside our warehouse
Where: Food Bank’s San Francisco warehouse, 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107
When: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019, 9:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.

MEDIA CONTACT: on Thursday, November 28, 2019: Gunilla Bergensten, Interim Director of Marketing & Communications, (cell) 415-490-8087

Pamela Wellner
Interim Manager, Media & Public Relations, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(cell) 415-730-0105, pwellner@sfmfoodbank.org

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About the SF-Marin Food Bank

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 32,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org

One million pounds milestone for the Food Bank distribution to Bay Area College food pantries

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (NOVEMBER 4, 2019) – On November 4, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank celebrates its
delivery of one million pounds of food to college pantries in the Bay Area. The Food Bank serves nearly 1,000
hungry students every week at five college pantries through student organization partnerships at San Francisco
State University, College of Marin, UCSF Parnassus, Dominican University and City College of San Francisco.

The Food Bank partners with local colleges to provide food to low-come students who struggle to balance the
high costs of education with basic needs. Eligible students can get free fresh produce and other groceries every
week. “By providing food directly on campus, the Food Bank makes it easy for students to pick up food and get
back to the hard work of pursuing their education,” said Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin
Food Bank.

“At Gator Groceries, we wanted to lower the stigma and find easy avenues for students to get help,” said Horace
Montgomery, Interim Executive Director and founder of the Food Pantry program at SFSU.” If you think of the
holistic student and everything they need to graduate, basic needs must be a priority,” said Karen Boyce,
Director of Health Promotion and Wellness, SFSU.

Who: Ashley Wong, Program Coordinator, SF-Marin Food Bank, Tina Gonzales, Senior Program Manager, SF-Marin Food Bank, Horace Montgomery, Director of the Associated Students, San Francisco State University ASI,
Joseph Penner, San Francisco State University ASI
What: A celebration, with jazz band and speakers, of the SF-Marin Food Bank’s milestone of delivering one
million pounds of food to Bay Area College Pantries
Where: SFSU Student Events Center, Annex I, 1 North State Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132
When: Monday, November 4, 2019, 12:00 p.m.

 

Pamela Wellner
Interim Manager, Media & Public Relations, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(cell) 415-730-0105, pwellner@sfmfoodbank.org

Joseph Penner
Events Planner, Associated Students, San Francisco State University
(cell) 541-261-0268, specialevents@asi.sfsu.edu

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About San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in five neighbors is at risk
of hunger. We envision a community where everyone is able to obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to
support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network
and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to
nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 32,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent
of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org