ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Five decades of feeding families in need brought the community together on Sept. 14 for the Elk Grove Food Bank’s Golden Celebration. Under the stars in the courtyard of the Sheldon Inn, attendees raised funds to locally continue to fill the need and to fight hunger.

The gala dinner brought out hundreds of residents to help celebrate and honor the work of the staff and volunteers who work daily at the warehouse on 9888 Kent St. The event featured Mark Hedlund as  Master of Ceremonies; a welcome by Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen; and entertainment by the Strauss Dancers and vocalist Nat Brown.

A video presentation by Dave Soto Productions told the history of The Food Bank and Clothes Closet.

In 1974, Bob Fossgreen, an Elk Grove Unified School District teacher, wanted to help stamp out hunger. He approached Pastor Ron Neuman of the United Methodist Church congregation and they set up distribution in the church basement. The small group was soon joined with the Elk Grove Ministerial Association. 

Cathy O’Neil, a community activist, added a clothes closet and now the organization has 18 projects to help those who need services, including food for pets, books for children and services for the elderly.  Under the leadership of Executive Director Marie Jachino, the nonprofit organization has grown in the last 20 years to include 11 employees and a host of volunteers who feed 10,000 people per month. It is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The mission is to provide help to low-income families, children, seniors, the chronically ill, migrant families, the disabled, working poor, unemployed and homeless. Donations come from grants, churches, business, individuals and government entities. Ninety-four percent of the funds raised goes to provide services.