ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - We all need life essentials: food, clothing and shelter. The Elk Grove Food Bank helps to care for two of those basic needs, food and clothing. They serve low-income families, homeless and disabled people, migrant workers, seniors and children. 

“Each month, an average of 8,000 people receive help from the food bank,” said Valerie Erwin, community outreach manager for the Elk Grove Food Bank. “In October, the center assisted 8,985 people.”

Where does the money come from for funding a large project like this? The nonprofit organization annually applies for a grant from the City of Elk Grove. Generous private donors in the community help fund the operation. Sponsorship from individuals, businesses, corporate and private foundations, civic and religious groups help as well.

Grocery stores Safeway, Trader Joe’s, Nugget, Sprouts, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Save Mart donate fresh produce, foodstuffs, paper towels and toilet paper.

“We look at the ‘sell by’ date. We make sure all of the food we dispense is the same quality we would put on our own table,” Erwin said.

Of the increased need for help during COVID-19, Erwin said, “It was like the floodgates opened. People lost their jobs and were struggling to survive. We thought once the epidemic was over we would slow down, but now many people were behind and became the working poor. Receiving free food and clothing helps to relieve some of their financial burden.”

At the Elk Grove Food Bank Warehouse, volunteers inspect and sort out the incoming products. A limit is set on commodities according to how much is available. Then, as people come in, they can pick out the items they need and can use.

At the facility, there is also a free clothes closet. Again, volunteers sort by size and type of clothing. The Food Bank partners with the schools and provides, for example, a coat when the weather gets colder. The clothes closet also provides interview clothes for adults.

Two shifts work each day, rotating the hundreds of volunteers in the warehouse. This doesn’t include the volunteers at The Clothes Closet, offsite programs and special events.

An outreach to low-income seniors housing brings food each month to various facilities in Elk Grove. 

On Oct. 24, the loaded van pulled up at Arborview Senior apartments and residents were greeted by Vanessa Brown, Elk Grove Food Bank program coordinator.

Brown reminded residents, “Your Thanksgiving turkey and the trimmings will be delivered on Saturday, Nov. 23rd. Also, there’s a cooking class at 11:30, so you know how to use some of these things.”

Included in shopping carts that day were edibles such as eggs, cheese, chicken, apple juice, carrots, zucchini, spinach, walnuts, whole wheat bread and more, plus paper towels and toilet paper.

Volunteers such as Joe and Kelly Allen take on two- to three-and-a-half-hour shifts to transport, set up supplies and help dispense items at low-income senior properties. Those who can’t make it down to the meeting room have their supplies delivered to their apartments.

“My job at Blue Shield allows me to take off time during the day to help with this service,” Kelly said.

If you would like to volunteer, register at https//www.signupgenius.com and attend an orientation session to qualify. All you need is a willing spirit, be ambulatory and in good health.

The food bank especially needs volunteers this time of the year to help distribute turkeys and trimmings to households in need.

Another way to help is by donating food. The food bank has a goal of giving out 1,000 turkeys this year. Other needed items are listed on its website. Donations are accepted 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Cash, check or credit card donations can be taken to the office on Kent Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Or you can mail a check to P.O. Box 1447 Elk Grove, CA, 95759.

The Elk Grove Food Bank, 9888 Kent St. in Elk Grove, is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.