Yolo Food Bank

At a recent distribution in Davis, we met Giovanni, a skilled handyman facing health challenges. Unable to work as he once did, Giovanni attended a food distribution for the first time. As we spoke about how he was preparing for the upcoming holidays, he expressed that he wasn’t even thinking that far ahead. His response was heartfelt and sobering: "The holidays are going to be tough, with the price of even basic groceries, you have to choose: am I going to get groceries or are we buying gifts? How can you choose?" Giovanni is thankful for the support he found at our Public Food Distribution and appreciates how meaningful it is to give. He reflects, "When I have enough to give, I give. And now I need some help, so I am thankful for that.” You can help our Yolo County community and neighbors like Giovanni by making a gift to the Yolo Give & Gathers campaign today: yolofoodbank.org/ygg24 #yologivesandgathers #holidayfooddistribution #holidaymealkit

On Saturday, November 16, Yolo Food Bank participated in the Fall Nourishing Neighbors program at both Safeway locations in Davis. Volunteers and staff greeted shoppers and shared information about the mission of Yolo Food Bank and our impact on the community. Customers could choose to donate $10 when they paid for their groceries on Saturday, and all proceeds go to supply Yolo Food Bank with shelf stable food items like peanut butter, spaghetti, canned tuna, and rice.?????? Thank you Safeway for your generosity during this holiday season. We appreciate working with our local partners to help raise awareness about Yolo Food Bank and to address food insecurity in Yolo County. ??

We’d like to thank the California Legislative Staff Education Institute and California Association of Food Banks for their visit to our food bank yesterday. As we enter the next legislative session and discuss the state of food insecurity, it is important to gain a firsthand look at food bank operations and how communities are being impacted. One in three households experience food insecurity in Yolo County, a rate that is higher than both state and national averages. Yolo Food Bank distributes 9.6 million pounds of food annually with the help of our 68 partner agencies, serving over 30,000 households each month. With pandemic-era funding ending and the need continuing to rise, support like this is vital to sustaining our work and strengthening our community’s safety net.

The Amazon warehouse in West Sacramento has been donating over 1 million pounds of essential items annually to Yolo Food Bank, until they closed their doors last week. We are grateful for Amazon's partnership over the years, their support has made a significant impact in Yolo County. This gap in food donations comes at a time when there has been a large increase in food insecurity within our Yolo County community. While food insecurity is a year-round issue, the financial strain of the holidays—combined with increased emotional expectations—makes this time of year particularly hard to navigate.?? Thanks to ABC10 and their Stand Against Hunger for highlighting this challenge and supporting our Yolo Gives & Gathers campaign focused on raising funds to provide food and nutrition during the holiday season.?? Along with distributing 2,250 holiday meal kits across the county, this campaign helps us continue providing food to more than 30,000 households annually through our Community Food Distributions and our partner organizations. You can help support Yolo Gives & Gathers and your community by donating at the link?? here: yolofoodbank.org/ygg24

Did you know that the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation initiated the Holiday Food Distribution effort in the early 2000s as a personal commitment to supporting the community? It wasn’t until 2010 that Yolo Food Bank joined forces, and together, we were able to distribute 650 boxes of food to families in need that year. This past Friday, we had the privilege of welcoming members of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to our warehouse, where they helped pack the first 200 boxes for this year’s Holiday Food Distribution! We were honored to be joined by Tribal Chairman Anthony Roberts, Tribal Secretary Mia Durham, and esteemed members of the Yocha Dehe Community Fund Board and Fire Commission. Yolo County is lucky to have leaders like the Yoche Dehe Wintun Nation in our community to be stewards in addressing food insecurity and all the pressing needs of the community!

There’s something special about the spirit of giving—it connects people, strengthens communities, and reminds us that together we can make a difference. Giving can come in many forms, whether it’s a financial contribution, volunteer work, or simply helping others.?? Trevor Tauzer and his family have found many ways to support Yolo Food Bank over the years. From the Capitol Funds campaign to build our new warehouse to helping at Public Food Distribution events, Trevor has seen the impact that giving has in all its forms.?? Read more about Trevor's story?? here: https://lnkd.in/g-z7EEsS

Yolo Food Bank cares about our community being represented and sharing information that helps all voices to be heard in the upcoming election. There are many avenues through which you can cast your vote in Yolo County, you can find the method that is most accessible to you and submit your ballot.??? For more info check out our post here??: yolofb.org/VoteMatters2024

Our Student Farmers Market program provides access to local produce and nutritional education for elementary through high school-aged children. Every month Yolo Food Bank visits 23 schools across Yolo County and teaches students about where their food comes from, how to make healthy eating decisions, and sometimes provides cooking demonstrations or tastings using the produce available. ?????? More than 1,900 households receive between 5-10 pounds of healthy produce through this program and the students build on their nutritional education with every visit. This amazing program lets students better understand what they are eating and sets the stage for a more food secure future! ??

Yolo Food Bank cares about our community being represented and sharing information that helps all voices to be heard in the upcoming election. Thanks to a grant from Yolo County Voter Education Grant Fund of the Yolo Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, we are able to share resources about where and how to vote in Yolo County. ? VERIFY Be sure to check that you are registered to vote. Online registration ends on October 21 but you can register on election day at your voting location. In order to vote you must be a U.S. citizen, a California resident, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day (November 5). ??? VOTE If you receive a ballot in the mail you can follow the instructions provided and mail it back, or drop it off at a Ballot Drop Box. If you register after October 21, you must visit a voting location to cast your ballot. Find a Vote Center close to you; some are open ten days before election day for early voting. ELECTION DAY is November 5 and all 12 voting locations in Yolo County are open from 7am-8pm for in-person voting. WHERE TO VOTE Find the voting location that is most convenient for you yolofb.org/VoteCenters

Last Friday night, the second annual Global Rice Fest, created by and for Yolo Food Bank, brought the community together in a wonderful celebration. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of delicious food and lively sounds, creating a night to remember.?? Check out the full recap HERE: https://lnkd.in/gqQ8aAQN You can find all of our wonderful sponsors listed in the graphic included here, their generosity helps this event and its mission continue for years to come. We want to say a special "Thank you!" to our sponsors, volunteers, and donors in helping to make this wonderful evening possible.