Emergency Food Bank and Family Services Stockton / San Joaquin

News

Posted on 02/13/2013

Position: Development and Events Coordinator, Full-time

Download Job Description and Information.
Submit your resume and cover letter to rknodt@stocktonfoodbank.org

---

From Our Executive Director - Tim Viall

Hunger Task Force offers opportunity to be part of solution!

The quarterly Task Force meeting in July offered a chance to review the progress over the past year.  Additionally, the TF reviewed the purpose or need of a San Joaquin County Hunger Task Force and received an update regarding HSA Food Stamp Registration Process from Brian Taing.

The upcoming County-wide Hunger Study was a focus of the meeting, and several new questions were added to the survey.  It was agreed that participating agencies would begin the process of client interviews by late August, with training offered by the San Joaquin Data Coop.

New facilitator Ted Van Alen, of Salvation Army-Lodi, shared an overview of the purpose of the Hunger Task Force.   The UCLA Hunger Study regarding Food Insecurity in California was discussed, and how far the group has come since the report was released in 2005.

Goals, targets and committees were established for 2009-2010:

1. Food Stamp outreach and building enrollment increases: ramping up our county’s enrollment of eligible residents, (combined with) Communications/marketing to local residents about where to go for help (similar to current goal #2)
2. The County Hunger/Nutrition Survey (fall, 2009); when, how, expected outcomes
3. A Spring, 2010 Hunger/Nutrition Summit, set for Thursday, January 21, 2010, similar to what other neighboring counties routinely do, to involve the community and build new solutions.  Local program successes will be profiled and representatives of the CA Association of Food Banks and the CA Food Policy Advocates will share best practices!
4. Nutrition and Family Food Education - budgeting, outreach training and education programs
5. Seniors Nutrition programs, from Meals on Wheels, to Senior Brownbag and more. 
6. Youth/children’s Nutrition programs – similar in focus to the Seniors challenges, #5 above.
7. Food development – building ongoing community support, and, the CA Association of Food Bank’s Farm to Family Program
8. Legislative Advocacy/Public Policy, a committee carried over from the previous goals.

The Task Force also agreed to continue progress in previous target areas. They include:

•  - To expand and further develop the Food Stamp Outreach Program for San Joaquin County.   This would include a county-wide, multi-ethnic grassroots campaign to deliver information relating to the issue of hunger, share information about how to register for food stamps and/or to access other emergency food programs available in the county.
•  - Continue the expansion and operation of the Mobile Farmers Market program in targeted census tracts where food access is a problem.

The next Meeting is set for Friday, October 23, 9:00 AM, at the Health Plan of San Joaquin conference room in French Camp, followed by the Food/Hunger Summit set for January 21, 2010.  For a Hunger Task Force Progress report, and/or to get involved, please call Task Force Co-facilitator Tim Viall at the EFB, 464-7369, or email him: tviall@stocktonfoodbank.org.

Food Development - Food 4 Thought

September proved to be what we expected… new food drives community members and groups starting to focus on the holiday season, and of course, fall is in the air! There are several ways you can help your community, and with a little creativity, a little can go a long way to help the needy in your neighborhood.  Of course, we are always seeking new donors of food to help keep the tummies full of our community of children and families too. If you know of someone who isn’t currently donating, and would like more information, please contact me at the food bank for more information.

Food drives are a great way to give back to your community. Below, I have listed some ideas so you can then share with your family, church groups, workplace, co-workers, students, Girl/Boy scout troops, or civic groups. The ideas below will help serve as a springboard for your event. You can be as creative as you’d like; there is no right or wrong way to hold your own food drive. Every little bit helps feed families in your county! Together, we can make a difference.

“GET READY FOR SPAGHETTI” or “NOW THAT’S ITALIAN” Have a food drive that focuses on an Italian meal to feed a family of 4 or more. Why not have each child/group member fill a bag on what it would take to make a spaghetti dinner. 

Suggested items:  Packaged dried pasta, canned spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic, Italian salad dressing, bread crumbs, and anything else to compliment an Italian meal.

“COMIDA DE FIESTA” Each person fills a bag full of items to make a traditional Mexican meal. 

Suggested items: Tortillas, salsa, pinto beans, cumin, Mexican spices, rice, pasta,

“MEALS ON THE GO” This food drive can consist of those items which are quick and easy to prepare, heat and go type meals. You can help fill in those areas where someone can use a little boost to their meal, or need a quick to prepare meal. Filling a bag with items such as these can help someone in need get through the week. 

Suggested items: Ready to make meals such as Hamburger Helper, Ready to Make Fajitas in a box, Taco Dinner mix in a box, boxed macaroni and cheese, stuffing, boxed mashed potatoes, canned fruits and/or vegetables, peanut butter or canned soups

“WE 'CAN MEAT' THE NEED” Canned protein meat products are in constant demand and especially during the lean months where fresh meat products are not available. 

Suggested items: Chicken in a can, chili with beans and meat, tuna, or any kind of fish

“WAKE UP SAN JOAQUIN” Cereal is a food item the food bank often becomes low or even out of. Why not do a food drive for your Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop, classroom or women’s church group and have them come to the meeting in pajamas bringing a bag filled with items which are traditionally for breakfast. 

Suggested items:  Boxed cereal, instant oatmeal, instant cream of wheat, bagels, fruit spread, pancake mix

Christmas Can Tree: I am excited to report that we now have our location for our annual Central Valley Association of Realtors (CVAR) Christmas Can Tree. The Regal City Center Cinema in downtown Stockton has graciously allowed us to erect the tree there in their lobby as in past years. Please come on down and join us, Friday, November 20thbetween 8:00 – 10:30 and watch it being constructed. Or, just come out and take pictures and join us for the fun. This spectacular structure stands over 15 feet high when fully erected and you just have to see it to believe it! We are very proud to be partnering with Del Monte Foods – Lathrop again this year, who generously donated 100% of the cans to be used in this year’s tree construction. All proceeds benefit the Emergency Food Bank and Salvation Army of Stockton. 

We also are having a few events surrounding the tree construction which will prove to be fun and exciting, and help raise additional funds for both agencies to fill holiday bags for families. Please join us for a fun morning away from the office at our annual CVAR Bowling tournamenttaking place Wednesday, November 4th at Pacific Bowl, 8:30 – 12:00. Breakfast and snacks will be served for the low price of just $10.00 per person, and prizes will be awarded for the best bowler, worst bowler, and more!  Please contact Colleen Stewart, CVAR Vice Chairman at 955-2200, or contact us at 464-7369 for your registration form.Register for your group today!

The annual CVAR Can Tree Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, December 10th, in the Garden Room at the Elkhorn Golf Club in Stockton, 11:00 – 2:30. Details will come, but contact us for registration. Cost is minimal, and there will be a can stacking contest to help raise more funds to help the needy during the holidays, so make reservations and register your can stacking team today!

Nutrition Services - Mobile Farmer's Market

The Mobile Farmer’s Market and other nutrition service programs at the food bank.

In 2006, the Emergency Food Bank wanted to address an underlying health disparity among low-income and underserved areas throughout San Joaquin County. A large number of families within these areas had potentially higher susceptibility to developing chronic diseases due to poor diet and lack of healthy nutritionally dense foods.

In an effort to reduce and prevent an alarming increase of obesity, type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease among this population due to unhealthy eating, the food bank along with recommendations from the Hunger Task Force of San Joaquin County, created and piloted the Mobile Farmer’s Market program. Serving clients with supplemental nutritional food bags since 1968, this new program seemed to align and coincide with the mission of the Emergency Food Bank. In 2007, with a donated van, minimal fresh produce, 5 pilot sites and plenty of motivation, the food bank launched and piloted our Mobile Farmer’s Market program.

What is the Mobile Farmer’s Market? Essentially the program is a farmer’s market on wheels, delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to resource-poor areas throughout the county enabling families, children and seniors access to these healthy commodities. What a concept! The program wanted to take it a step further and provide nutrition education in the form of a healthy cooking demonstration that incorporated fresh produce along with nutritional insights to the target population in need. The goal was quite simple; educate, raise awareness and enable access to prevent the development of chronic diseases and unhealthy lifestyles!

With over two years running and over 55 sites throughout the county, the Mobile Farmer’s Market program has reach thousands of participants. From seniors in housing centers to children and parents in Title One schools, from the recently unemployed to the currently food insecure, the program has successfully reached all those in need.

Currently in 2009, the Mobile Farmer’s Market has delivered hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to over 15,000 participants. And as the economy continues to worsen, the numbers of clients continue to increase.

Norma Valencia who visits the West Lane Oaks Resource Center has been enjoying the program for many months. “I like the program because it teaches me how to cook better nutritional meals for my family.”

As a result of the growing popularity of the Mobile Farmer’s Market, the food bank has partnered with theUniversity of California Cooperative Extensions Master Gardener Program to deliver garden enhanced education to the same target population at some MFM sites. The “Grow Your Own Garden” program provides tips and information on how participants can create, grow and maintain a fruit/vegetable garden at home. The idea behind this program is to encourage families to participate in this agricultural movement by enabling them the “how to” to start their own home garden.

Other programs the food bank provides are the “Nutrition on the Move” workshop which educates participants on a series of general nutrition education, and SNAP Outreach (formerly known as food stamp) which assists families on the prescreening and application process. Both programs are available at the food bank.

For more information on any of the Nutrition Service programs contact the food bank at 464-7369.

Produce of the Month

Referred to as vegetables in cooking, squash are actually fruit.  Besides the fruit, other edible parts of the squash plants include the seeds (eaten whole, toasted, ground into paste or pressed into oil); shoots, leaves, and tendrils (eaten as greens); and blossoms (used for cooking and decorating).

Squash is an excellent source of vitamins, most in the form of beta carotene.  Vitamin A is a central component for healthy vision and the anti oxidant beta-carotene helps fight off cancer causing free radicals. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of potassium. Squash contains 6 grams of dietary fiber, an excellent source of complex carbohydrates.

For the Recipe of the Month Click Here