About The Food Pantry
The Elk Grove Presbyterian Church Food Pantry was established in 1988 and is managed by a team of committed volunteers. We provide food and essential grocery items to Elk Grove residents who are experiencing difficult financial times. These residents include single parent families, two-parent families, seniors, and temporarily or permanently disabled persons referred to us by the staff of the Elk Grove Community Service Office. Currently we are providing food to approximately forty households twice a month, as well as numerous walk-ins referred to us by the Kenneth Young Center and other social service organizations. In addition, we provide food and volunteers for the Weekend Food Backpack program for children in need at Prince of Peace Church and other smaller local food pantries that are in need.
Elk Grove Food Bank Services
Founded in 1974 by the Elk Grove Ministerial Association. What started as an individual act of kindness has led to supplying food and other critical resources for the last 43 years. The Elk Grove Food Bank Services has continued to expand and evolve to serve the needs of food insecure individuals in the Elk Grove Region and South County. In 2004, EGFBS became an independent 501©3 corporation. Since 2009 the Food Bank has grown from two programs to 16 programs, two employees to 12 employees and over 800 dedicated volunteers. Empathy cant be trained, so we are blessed with staff, volunteers and board members with inborn compassion. All programs and services are free. Every month, the food bank distributes food to more than 4,000 people, including families, children, seniors, migrant workers, disabled, medically fragile, working poor and the homeless.
Elk Grove Township Extends Food Pantry Hours
Hours will be extended to 7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning July 20. Additional evenings with extended hours could be added based on demand.
To ensure that the Elk Grove Township Food Pantry is accessible to as many residents as possible, the Township will be extending its Tuesday hours of operation until 7 p.m. for a test program beginning July 20. New user applications and scheduled appointments are required.
Current Food Pantry hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon, and again from 1 3 p.m. With this change, Tuesday afternoon hours will begin at 1 p.m. and run until 7 p.m. The Township wants to make sure those in-need are not prevented from getting food due to work, or other obligations during the day.
The Food Pantry is utilized by many different individuals experiencing a range of challenges we must make sure its hours of operation are not preventing our residents who have a need from accessing it, said Elk Grove Township Supervisor George Busse. This is an extremely important service provided through the Township and we are looking to determine if more people can be served through these extended hours.
At present, the Food Pantry is serving nearly the same number of families per month, compared to those served during the height of the pandemic.
The fact that need has not diminished, despite our world opening up again, indicates a test like this is important to explore, Busse said.
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Elk Grove Township Client Choice Food Pantry Provides Insight To Needs
Starting in March, households with larger families can now visit the food pantry twice per month, rather than the standard monthly visit.
In 2020, Elk Grove Township implemented a client choice model for their food pantry, allowing individuals to choose items that they prefer, rather than those that were previously pre-packaged. This new model provided insight for Township officials regarding a higher demand among food pantry users, especially those with households that include four or more individuals. Beginning in March, these households will now be able to visit the food pantry twice per month. Previously, families could visit once per month.
During 2020, the food pantry served an average of 326 families per month compared to an average of 230 families per month in 2019. This represents a more than 40% increase in the average number of families in-need who were served.
I am proud of the evolution of the Township food pantry due to the changing needs of our residents, said Elk Grove Township Supervisor Mike Sweeney. We are working hard to meet the growing needs of community members through these challenging times.
All food pantry users are required to make an appointment due to safety guidelines related to the pandemic. This helps to avoid residents waiting in lines, and limits to the number of people in the food pantry at any given time. Additionally, shoppers are required to wear face covers and apply hand sanitizer before entering the food pantry.
Elk Grove Food Bank May Have To Start Buying Food
The Elk Grove Food Bank may have to start buying food if they can’t get more donations.
On July 25, a donation drive was held at the California State Fair, and people who brought in three cans of food were given a free ticket to the fair.
Currently, the food bank services about 13,000 families a month, which is up by 3,000 since May. Organizers say the increase is due to inflation and high gas prices.
“We’re signing up a good 15 to 20 families per day, and it has been that way for the past several months,” said Darcie Owen, a Volunteer Coordinator for the Elk Grove Food Bank.
For more information on how to volunteer at the food bank to help sort and distribute products at their warehouse, .
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First published on July 26, 2022 / 7:47 AM
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Elk Grove Food Bank Opens Warehouse At New Location
From left: Ian Waters, Elk Grove Food Bank volunteer Marie Jachino, executive director of the food bank Brian Lane, food bank volunteer and Valerie Erwin, community outreach manager of the food bank, stand in front of the food banks new cold storage room.
Elk Grove Food Bank Services on April 26 began operating its food storage and distribution warehouse at its new location at 9888 Kent St., just a short distance from its old facility on Dino Drive.
Food bank staff is now targeting a soft opening for this new facility early next month, and a grand opening in early June.
The opening of the warehouse was an emotional day for EGFB Executive Director Marie Jachino, considering it was her dream for the 48-year-old food bank to open its first permanent home. A groundbreaking ceremony for the warehouse was held last August.
Jachino called the opening of the warehouse a historical day for Elk Grove.
Im overwhelmed, she said while holding back tears of joy. Really, its surreal. There so many people in need. And I dont think people realize we serve the community six days a week. Our operation is seven days a week.
Valerie Erwin, community outreach manager for the food bank, spoke about Jachinos dream of having a permanent home for the food bank.
Jachino told the Citizen that her vision for this permanent home began 14 years ago.
I was determined, and every time a door shut, I didnt give up, she said.
How We Listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Heres how this organization is listening.
done
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys , Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews , Case management notes,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Enhanced delivery service to clients homebound due to COVID-19 restrictions
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don’t have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
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How To Help
Non-perishable items can be dropped off in the donation box by the Church front door. You may also call the church office to arrange a drop off time for larger donations or perishable items. Monetary donations are very much appreciated and can be made by check or online through our secure website link. As a special note, all donations are tax deductible.
Needed pantry items are published weekly in the Elk Grove Presbyterian Church newsletter which can be viewed here, or sign up here to receive the newsletter each week.