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

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Employees Join OPEIU, Local 29 in a Vote

San Francisco, CA (November 1), On October 31, 2019, non-supervising, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank employees made a collective decision to join OPEIU, Local 29. The Food Bank Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors have conveyed to all employees that they respect their decision and ongoing commitment to the Food Bank’s mission.

“Our staff has spoken, and we look forward to working with them and OPEIU to further our mission of ending hunger in San Francisco and Marin” stated Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco Marin Food Bank.

In the last two years, the Food Bank leadership has been modernizing its infrastructure and preparing to scale up the organization to better meet the growing demand for its programs and services. According to the recent Missing Meals study, 21% of the population is at risk of food insecurity in San Francisco and Marin, after counting services from government and other nonprofit feeding programs.

As the Food Bank moves forward and provides for the hungry today and tomorrow, the Board of Directors and the Senior Leadership Team are committed to continuing to fulfill our promises to the community and support our employees in all Food Bank related matters.

For more information please contact, Kath Delaney at kdelaney@sfmfoodbank.org
or 415-531-1642.

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About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
The 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 can 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 (CalFresh) enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in
need. Every week, 30,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we
distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. To learn more about our history and our programs, please go to
www.sfmfoodbank.org/about.

Fleet Week U.S. Military Personnel Lend a Helping Hand in the Battle to End Hunger in San Francisco and Marin

SAN FRANCISCO (October 10, 2019) – During Fleet Week on Thursday, October 10 — at 9:00 a.m. – over 25 U.S. Marine Corps and Navy personnel will volunteer for a two-hour shift to pack up fresh produce and other healthy food at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. The Marines and Sailors, working alongside civilian volunteers, will box thousands of pounds of fresh produce that’s distributed to 32,000 households each week.
With one in five people in San Francisco and Marin in need of food, the fight to end hunger is intense here. Throughout the U.S. recent studies show one in four military households in the U.S. receive assistance from a food bank.

“This is the third year that the Marines and other military members have helped us out during Fleet Week. We look forward to welcoming back the men and women who fight for our freedom and thank them for their service to our country and for helping us provide for those in need,” said Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

WHO: Fleet Week Marines and Sailors
WHAT: A two-hour volunteer shift inside our warehouse
WHERE: Food Bank’s San Francisco warehouse, 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107
WHEN: Thursday, October 10, 2019, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

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

Jamie Lopez: media@fleetweeksf.org
Onsite at warehouse: (cell): 281-216-6588
LT Aaron Walling
aaron.walling@lpd25.navy.mil

Warriors vs. Raptors Match-Up Inspires International “Food Bank Finals Challenge”

Fundraising competition asks Golden State/Toronto fans to show their generosity

OAKLAND and SAN FRANCISCO, CA, (May 30th, 2019) – The NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Raptors isn’t just a battle happening on the hardwood:  Starting on May 30th, fans of both teams are also competing in the Food Bank Finals Challenge – a friendly contest to see which team’s fans are the most generous when it comes to supporting local nonprofits.

Warriors fans are being asked to make financial donations to Alameda County Community Food Bank or the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. In Toronto, Raptor fans are encouraged to donate to Sick Kids.

“Over the last four years, we’ve learned that Warriors fans are as passionate about ending hunger as they are for championships,” said Suzan Bateson, Executive Director of Alameda County Community Food Bank. “This year, we’re sincerely grateful to Bay Area and Toronto fans for helping causes that are critically important in their home communities as they cheer their teams on.”

Added Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, “It’s been an exciting 5-year run with the Warriors in the NBA Finals – made more enjoyable by the Dubs fans who celebrate this greatness with donations that continue to lift-up thousands of Bay Area neighbors in need.

As she’s done since the 2015 NBA Finals, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf is also supporting local food bank fundraising efforts as part of her friendly wagers with mayors of competing cities. “As the defending champion Warriors have shown, there is Strength in Numbers,” says Schaaf.  “I’m urging all Warrior fans to rise to the challenge to show our compassion for our most vulnerable residents and commit to raising critical funds for families struggling with hunger in the Bay Area.”

Donations for the Food Bank Finals Challenge can be made online (see web links below) and totals donated by Warriors Fans will be reported daily during the duration of the NBA Finals.

• Alameda County Community Food Bank: http://www.accfb.org/foodbankfinals/
• San Francisco-Marin Food Bank: sfmfoodbank.org/foodbankfinals/
• Sick Kids: https://www.sickkids.ca/

Mark Seelig
Public Relations Manager – San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(office) 415-282-1907 ext. 270; (cell) 415-246-9146
mseelig@sfmfoodbank.org

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About Alameda County Community Food Bank
Alameda County Community Food Bank—Feeding America’s 2016-2017 Food Bank of the Year–has been at the forefront of hunger relief efforts in the Bay Area since 1985. This year, the Food Bank will distribute the equivalent of 28 million meals. More than half of the food distributed is farm-fresh produce. The Food Bank serves 1 in 5 Alameda County residents by distributing food through a network of 267 food pantries, soup kitchens, and other community organizations, as well as direct-distribution programs including Children’s Backpack and Mobile Pantry. For 12 consecutive years, Alameda County Community Food Bank has received Charity Navigator’s top rating — Four Stars — ranking the organization among the top 1 percent of charities nationwide. Learn more at www.accfb.org.

About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
The San Francisco-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 (CalFresh) enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 30,000 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.

May 22nd: Food Bank & Metallica Fans Rock Out in the SF Warehouse

Rock band’s nonprofit “All Within My Hands Foundation” 2^nd annual Day of Service event

 SAN FRANCISCO (May 22, 2019) – For the second year in a row members of the legendary Bay Area rock group Metallica are going the extra mile to help alleviate hunger in communities all over the country. They have encouraged their fans to sign up for volunteer shifts at 50 food banks around the country, including ours, as part of the band’s nonprofit All Within My Hands Foundation’s call for a national Day of Service.

Last year we welcomed in 80 hardcore fans as they helped us glean and box up fresh food for our neighbors in need. This year we’re expecting nearly double that amount – 150 fans to participate.

The band’s iconic drummer, Lars Ulrich, was on hand last year – making a generous 5-thousand-dollar donation to the Food Bank before volunteering some of his time to the cause. “This is a chance to get the word out there that music fans can make a difference; hard rock fans can make a difference.”

“With one in four people living in San Francisco and Marin in need of food assistance of some kind, we could use all the help we can get,” says Paul Ash, Food Bank Executive Director.  “But it’s Metallica’s star power and their ability to shine a brighter light on hunger that might even be more far-reaching.”

Each registered volunteer will receive a special “All Within My Hands” t-shirt commemorating Metallica’s 2^nd annual Day of Service as well as a healthy dose of Metallica songs on the boombox.

WHAT: 150 Metallica fans volunteering inside the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s SF warehouse, gleaning and boxing fresh food for our neighbors in need.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 22nd, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

WHO: Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, fans of the band and Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash

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

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Seelig
Public Relations Manager – San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(office) 415-282-1907 ext. 270; (cell) 415-246-9146
mseelig@sfmfoodbank.org

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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 CalFresh 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. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank has released our Missing Meals report, which shows the number of meals missed by low-income residents in San Francisco and Marin stood at just over 35 million in 2017 (the latest year of available data).

In order to close the hunger gap, the Food Bank is starting a major expansion at our San Francisco warehouse and upgrading our recently purchased facility in San Rafael.

Read the press release.

More information about our Missing Meals Report and warehouse expansion:

Missing Meals Fact Sheet – San Francisco and Marin

Missing Meals Fact Sheet – San Francisco only

Missing Meals Fact Sheet – Marin only

Missing Meals full report

San Francisco warehouse expansion webpage

Marin warehouse expansion webpage

SAN FRANCISCO/MARIN (April 29, 2019) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is a vital lifeline for over 140,000 people every week – – but new data finds hunger is still a significant problem in our community. To close the hunger gap, the Food Bank is planning to expand our warehouses and services.

The need:  The newly released “Missing Meals” report shows the number of meals missed by low-income residents in San Francisco and Marin – those living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) – stood at just over 35 million in 2017 (the latest year of available data).  That is down from a high of 62 million missing meals in 2013, and down from 43 million missing meals in 2016.

The drop is attributed to two main factors:  A slow but steady increase in the amount of food being provided by the Food Bank, and our nonprofit partners, to people living at or below 200% FPL:  48 million meals in 2015 compared to 49 million meals provided in 2017.  During the same period, census data shows the number of low-income people in San Francisco and Marin declined by about 26,000:  266,000 low-income individuals living in SF and Marin in 2015, compared to 240,000 in 2017.

“We’re encouraged by the growth in nonprofit meals provided, meaning the Food Bank and our network of partners are making a difference in the community,” says Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash.  “But the fact of the matter is that 35 million missing meals is 35 million too many.”

The solution:  In our current facilities, the Food Bank has reached capacity.  To close the hunger gap, we are about to begin major expansion projects at both our San Francisco warehouse, and our recently purchased facility in San Rafael.  Expanding our facilities will enable the Food Bank to sustain and increase the amount of food we supply to 400+ partner organizations including GLIDE, Meals on Wheels, St. Anthony’s Foundation and San Rafael’s Ritter Center.

“Our total food distribution has plateaued at 48 million pounds annually, and even this level of output is a real struggle given our space constraints,” says Ash.  “In order to reduce the number of missing meals, we need to expand our infrastructure, which will directly impact our ability to expand our services throughout San Francisco and Marin. This will allow us to reach more neighbors who are struggling to put food on the table every day. We’ll also continue to advocate for improving government food-assistance programs – especially CalFresh – which are essential to closing the gap.”

The project in San Francisco will add an additional 28,000 square feet of warehouse space to the Food Bank’s building at 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, including two new loading docks.  Work is set to begin in 2020 and should wrap up in the summer of 2021.  Construction on the Marin facility at 2250 Kerner Boulevard in San Rafael will begin later this month and will renovate existing space to better host volunteers and create a more efficient work flow.  That project should be completed by September of 2019.

The overall goal is to be able to distribute 50% more food to our neighbors in need in San Francisco and Marin by the year 2040.

Food Bank Expansion – by the Numbers 

View Our Digital Media Kit

MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Seelig
Public Relations Manager – San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(office) 415-282-1907 ext. 270; (cell) 415-246-9146
mseelig@sfmfoodbank.org

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About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

The San Francisco-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. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.

SAN RAFAEL, CA (March 16, 2019) – The Food Bank is excited to welcome dozens of U.S. Coast Guard families to our Marin warehouse on March 16th for a special volunteer shift. Just a few weeks ago, these same families received help at the Food Bank’s January 19 pop-up food pantry after going weeks without a paycheck because of the federal government shutdown.

“We’re the ones who usually respond to those in need, so the kindness and generosity shown by the Food Bank was really touching,” said Kristy Martin, president of the North Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club, who is organizing Coast Guard families for this weekend’s volunteer shift. “The food really helped sustain our Coast Guard community during a time of great need. Now it’s our turn to give back by volunteering.”

 WHAT:   Coast Guard families will sort food that will be distributed to neighbors in need over the next several weeks.
WHO:  Members of the North Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club and Food Bank staff will be on hand for interviews.
WHERE:  The Food Bank’s Marin Warehouse – 2550 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael CA 94901
WHEN: Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WHY:  Nearly 40,000 people volunteered at the Food Bank last year. Volunteers, like these Coast Guard family members, are essential to help us continue to meet the need in our community.

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MEDIA CONTACT:                                                                                     
Maria Stokes
Director of Marketing and Communications
(cell) 415-312-8750; (office) 415-282-1907 x264

About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
Our 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 can 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. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.