Corporate Partners Strengthening the Safety Net The Whole Foods is taking hunger-relief work in Sonoma County seriously. Since October 1st employees and customers teamed up to raise enough food and funds to provide over 90,000 meals for our neighbors in need. Through corporate philanthropy and volunteerism, the employees of Whole Foods are stepping up to help strengthen the safety net in our community. G&C Auto Body 24 BARRELS + $2,400 = 6,571 MEALS “We support the REFB because, at the end of the day, it comes down to what you gave and whose world you helped make a little better. ” ~Tara Crozat, Corporate Trainer, G&C Auto Body Winter Food & Funds Drive Whole Foods employees rally for hungerrelief by sorting produce at the REFB. Newsfeed REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK SPRING 2015 The REFB is thankful to have such a wonderful group of people join the effort to end hunger. IT’S A WRAP! Redwood Credit Union THANK YOU SONOMA COUNTY! 400 COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE HOSTS COLLECTED FOOD & FUNDS FOR 570,000 MEALS 72 Sonoma 40 Virtual 11 Food & County Schools Food Drive Hosts Drug Stores “There is a “need.” Nutrition is not a want. We all deserve to have RCU has earned a spot among our most significant corporate partners through donations, employee and board member contributions, volunteerism, hosting food drives in their branches, and hosting benefit events. CVS od Drive Virtual Fo Food Maxx G & G Market the essentials - food, Lucky’s doubly important to share Thank you to the hundreds Molsberry Market this mind-set with young of people who participated Oliver’s Market people.” in online food drives. Find Safeway ~Scott Parker Head of Schools The Presentation School out how you can host a Smart and Final virtual food drive at Walgreens www.refb.org today! Whole Foods 29,368 48,291 158,052 MEALS PROVIDED MEALS PROVIDED MEALS PROVIDED Increasing Our Provision of Help Farm to Family School Pantry In recognition of their sponsorship, Redwood Credit Union’s logo is displayed on the REFB food drive truck. “The impact the Redwood Empire Food Bank has in this community makes them an important partner for us as we support other safety net issues like housing and education, all with the ultimate goal of helping people live healthy, financially stable lives.” Brett Martinez, President and CEO, Redwood Credit Union. HOW YOU CAN HELP THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS FOOD & FUNDS DRIVE SPONSORS Host a Food & Funds Drive: • Sign up online at www.refb.org • Call 707-523-7902 ext. 114 • Email [email protected] Make a Financial Donation: • Online at www.refb.org • Mail a check to the REFB • Return the envelope delivered with your Newsfeed Volunteer: • Individuals and groups can sort, pack, deliver and distribute food • Visit www.refb.org/volunteer • Send an email to [email protected] FULL PLATE PARTNERS Alfonso Alarcon, REFB Program Coordinator, leads a nutrition lesson at a local Harvest Pantry site. We are thankful for the partnership of RCU and the example of corporate responsibility they demonstrate as a supporter of hunger-relief in our community. Grocery Outlet education, shelter. It is (RCU) is the Premier Sponsor of our Annual Food and Funds Drive. Ending hunger requires partnerships with individuals, civic organizations, foundations, faith-based entities, government, and a host of philanthropic local corporations. Full Plate Partners are a dedicated group of REFB donors who offer regular monthly gifts to support our critical work to end hunger in our community. We count on this generous support each month, and because these donations are automatic, the REFB can plan and budget more efficiently, allowing us to leverage your donation to its maximum potential. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Signing up is easy – you pick the amount to be donated each month and select the payment method (bank transfer or credit card) and we’ll do the rest! Your input is welcomed and needed to help make the REFB the best it can be. Send your comments, suggestions and questions to [email protected] or mail them to Communications at the REFB. You can become a Full Plate Partner by visiting our website at www.refb.org/full plate or contacting Hillary Jarcik at [email protected]. Hunger Relief ON THE GO Looking for a team building activity and want to give back in a meaningful way? Hunger Relief On The Go is the latest opportunity for local businesses to volunteer, sponsor, and engage in our mission during an action packed afternoon. While volunteers pack thousands of food boxes each month at the Vintage Wine Estates packing boxes at their REFB, your sponsorship of Hunger facility in Santa Rosa. Relief On The Go brings emergency food box packing to you. An REFB truck brimming with pallets and cases of food will pull up to your location to deliver conveyors, tape guns, pallet jacks, staff supervision, and all that you need for your group to pack hunger-relief boxes. We offer many outlets for corporate philanthropy: sponsorships, employee giving campaigns, company matching, volunteer activities, and food and funds drives. To join us in ending hunger, contact Billy Bartz at [email protected] or call 707-523-7900. Your investment in the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB) delivers healthy food, nutrition education, and strengthens the safety net in our community. Each week, parents with kids in tow line up at one of the seven Farm to Family School Pantry (FFSP) sites to receive fresh produce and healthy staple food items. FFSP sites are strategically located at high-need schools in Sonoma County, including two new sites in Santa Rosa, Helen Lehman Elementary and Sheppard Elementary. FFSP serves up to 1,900 children and their families in a week. “We count on the groceries each Tuesday, because we often run out of food over the weekend. I pray for the people who donate so that my family has food.” ~Aurelia Arrellano, FFSP Participant The REFB distributes 26 different types of fruits and vegetables based on the season and availability. Our participants, like most parents, are always looking for fun and new ways to get their kids to eat more produce. In response to this need, we develop preparation tips and recipes to help families get creative. “It’s a good thing to receive fresh and healthy food for my family. My kids eat more vegetables now and they really liked the broccoli recipe.” ~Petra Martinez, FFSP Participant In March, two REFB interns from the SRJC Dietetic Technology Program, Gustavo and Angel (pictured to the right), handed out samples of a Waldorf style salad made with celery, apples, cinnamon and yogurt. The tasty sample made the nutrition lesson even more enjoyable and increased audience engagement. The children especially liked the combination of apples and cinnamon that made a healthy snack a delicious treat. By pairing wholesome food with nutrition education we are helping to create healthy, strong, hunger-free communities. As a direct result of your generous support and a Morgan Stanley grant, we are increasing the provision of help to the many families we serve. In This Issue... 1 Increasing Our Provision of Help 2 The REFB Dialogue | Sharing the Voice of Hunger 3 4 REFB On The Move 5 6 Winter Food & Funds Drive Harnessing Our Network | Volunteer for Summer Lunch Corporate Partners Get Involved THE REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK provides food and hunger-relief in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. The REFB is a member of Feeding America and a member of California Association of Food Banks. 5 6 1 The REFB Dialogue Advocacy Food vs. Hunger Sharing the Voice of Hunger People in Sonoma County are knowledgeable about food and enjoy discussing its pleasures. Some words commonly used in conversations include access, healthy, local, and sustainable. When the REFB talks about food we also use these words, but undoubtedly, they have a different meaning. When applied to hunger relief, the expression of these words refers to a food system capable of helping 82,000 of our neighbors receive enough food to remain healthy. One word we always include in our discussions about food is “urgent”. That is because the food needs for the people we serve are today and their hunger is now. With urgency in mind, the REFB stays focused on how to serve people in the most effective ways. We concentrate our efforts on programs that provide greater access to food that is healthy, nearby, and consistent, so recipients can attend to the other important areas in their lives. Our ability to stay focused in our conversations and our work is due to the steadfast support you provide through your contribution of time, food, and funding. Thank you. Sincerely, David Goodman Executive Director PROGRAM UPDATES Brown Bag Program Serving Seniors The Redwood Empire Food Bank serves 82,000 individuals each month: children, seniors, working parents, disabled Veterans – no matter their situation. Each individual has a story to tell. A story that deserves to be heard. On May 13th, 2015 the REFB will be attending Hunger Action Day in Sacramento to share these stories. Together with the California Hunger Action Coalition, the California Association of Food Banks, regional food banks, meal programs, nutritionists, and anti-hunger advocates from across California, we will educate our legislators about hunger and encourage their support of anti-hunger legislation. Through the generous grant support of MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger, the REFB has been able to increase our advocacy efforts and participate in important activities, such as Hunger Action Day. Will you join us to advocate on behalf of our neighbors at Hunger Action Day? A legislative agenda, talking points, transportation and lunch will be provided. We need your help to tell the stories of our neighbors facing hunger. To sign-up, please call Itzul Gutierrez at (707) 523-7900 x 132 or email her at [email protected]. Jim Barnes | Sitzmann Morris & Lavis PRESIDENT Howard Daulton | Exchange Bank David Guhin City of Santa Rosa Gary Edwards | Sage Marketing of Sonoma Judy Farrell | University of San Francisco (Retired) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EDITOR Christy Gentry Brendan Kunkle | Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Larson | UC California Cooperative Extension Billy Bartz, Edith Cadena, Christy Gentry, David Goodman, Hillary Jarcik, Jen Oberti, Amy Schaner, Dalton Wiley Steven Maass | Oliver’s Market Suzy Marzalek | Agilent Technologies (Retired) Eric McHenry | City of Santa Rosa Debbie Meekins | First Community Bank DESIGN + PRODUCTION Marie Scherf | Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc. Christy Gentry Barbara Spangler | Clinical Research Manager (Retired) Pedro Toledo | Petaluma Health Center PRINTING Ad-Vantage Marketing Robin Wendler | ZFA Structural Engineers Improving the lives of seniors in our community who are facing the challenge of accessing nutritious food is at the heart of the Brown Bag Program. Seniors receiving food in the program are living at or below 150% of poverty. The REFB Brown Bag Program reduces the stress of hunger by providing 30 lbs. of healthy supplemental food and fresh produce to 300 seniors each month. Your support and the grant funding from the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation offer security through healthy food to these seniors in need. The Diabetes Wellness Program is helping low-income people with Type 2 Diabetes through nutrition education and healthy food distribution. Food Connections, a new REFB program dedicated to helping qualified individuals navigate the CalFresh (food stamps) application process, is now open. In the first month of service, 83% of the applications submitted were approved. We are also excited to share that the average monthly benefit awarded is about $145. These crucial funds equate to 200 more meals per month and help improve the financial and nutritional stability of low-income families. In February and March, 100 low-income individuals concerned about their health were screened in Sonoma County. A quarter of those screened were in the Sonoma Valley, a community we wouldn’t have been able to reach without a generous grant from Impact 100 Sonoma. Individuals throughout Sonoma County are receiving help in managing their diabetes thanks to your support. 3990 Brickway Boulevard | Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | 707.523.7900 | refb.org 2 On the first Tuesday of every month 20 to 30 volunteers from the St. Philip and St. Teresa Apostle Catholic Churches, show up to run a client choice pantry in Occidental. Known to the community as the Rural Food Program, this church based pantry partners with the REFB to provide fresh and healthy food to more than 160 people each month. It is through our partnership with organizations, such as St. Philip and St. Teresa, that we are able to harness the power of our network to reach every corner of our community. For 27 years, the parishioners of St. Philip and St. Teresa have been gathering to ensure that their neighbors have enough food to eat. Sylvia Melrose, a dedicated volunteer for two decades says, “I am part of a community that cares for one another. We leave our judgment at the door and it feels good to help others. It’s really amazing to see the pantry evolve. We have more fresh produce to offer than ever before.” Running a client choice pantry means that rather than providing a pre-filled bag of groceries, the volunteers arrange the food in a market like fashion so the attendees have the opportunity to choose the items they need and want. This level of service provides the recipients the dignity of choice and a commitment to community that is embraced by everyone. “None of this would be possible without the REFB. In fact, 90% of our food comes from the Redwood Empire Food Bank. We are especially interested in the overall health of our community, so we work to offer nutritious food, educate about the importance of proper nutrition, and provide healthy recipes.” Rodney DeMartini Rural Food Program Volunteer Coordinator Summer Lunch Volunteers Needed “When it became apparent that procuring enough protein was difficult for the REFB, I worked with the Sonoma Marin Cattlemen to initiate this project in partnership with Oak Ridge Angus. I’m proud that this project has contributed thousands of pounds of beef to low-income families through the REFB,” says Larson. The Range to Table project puts local beef on the tables of low-income families in our community by partnering with farmers to raise livestock and donate the meat to the REFB. Healthy protein items, like beef, can be very costly and are often missing from the diet of our low-income neighbors. Ms. Larson brings a unique set of experiences to the REFB Board. She has served as the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Livestock and Rangeland Management Farm Advisor for over 30 years, specializing in livestock production and marketing and as the County Director for 7 years. She has a Bachelors of Science and Master of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Idaho and the University of Wyoming, respectively, and a PhD in Rangeland Ecology and Management, Oregon State University. OUR MISSION: TO END HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY St. Philip and St. Teresa Apostle Catholic Churches’ veteran volunteers passing out fresh produce during a Rural Food Distribution. Rural Food Program We are pleased to introduce a new member of the REFB Board of Directors, Stephanie Larson. While she is new to the board, she isn’t new to the REFB. Stephanie helped create the Range to Table project in 2012. David Goodman Suzanne Smith Sonoma County Transportation Authority Jon Griffith Allstate Mortgage Co. Harnessing Our Network Spearheads Range to Table Project Pete Golis | Editorial Director (Retired) SECRETARY Diabetes Wellness Program Growing New REFB Board Member VICE PRESIDENT Rebecca La Londe Kaiser Permanente Food Connections Now Open Photo: (L to R) Sean Hamlin, Senior Field Rep. for Mike Thompson; Itzul Gutierrez, REFB Program Manager; Stephen Gale, District Rep. for Mike Thompson. BOARD OF DIRECTORS TREASURER HUNGER RELIEF AT WORK 3 The REFB needs YOUR HELP for the 12th annual Every Child, Every Day Summer Lunch Program, which offers low-income children in Sonoma County a healthy lunch during the summer break! This is a great way to enjoy the summer weather while helping to end hunger in our community. Team up with friends or colleagues to share duties. All volunteers must be 18+ years old. CONTACT: Vanessa Wallace at [email protected] or 707.523.7900 ext. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to deliver and serve nutritious meals to children and to supervise exercise and educational activities at lunch sites. LEAVE A LASTING MARK AT THE REFB When the REFB first moved into our Brickway Blvd. facility, we offered the chance to buy a tile for our commemorative wall. The tiles were a huge hit, and now that thousands of volunteers and visitors have seen the wall, we are often asked if we are going to make the tiles available again. We are excited to announce that, yes, there will be another chance to buy a tile for this special wall. Early this summer we will be offering the tiles, so keep your eyes open for this unique chance to leave your lasting mark at the REFB. 4
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