The American Red Cross California Gold Country Region is helping to fill vacancies in the volunteer workforce at the Sacramento Food Bank and the Interfaith Food Bank in Amador County.
Both endeavors have added up to many hours of volunteering, many thousands of pounds of distributed food and a lot of pride in serving these communities.
Below is a note from Disaster Program Manager Debbie Calcote on what the experience has meant to her:
When the sheltering in place order was set, I was already working in the local Emergency Operations Center. My role was to help make sure that our food banks were able to maintain a supply of food for the communities.
Adel Welty and I worked with local churches to find all the places that had small food pantries, and we have maintained open communication with them throughout.
But working with other agencies to make sure food got out was way different than working the food bank.
When I was first reaching out to volunteers and friends to help there, I heard a lot of different excuses.
Here are some of the responses:
- “It’s too far to drive.”
- “Why would I want to stand all day and sort fruit and vegetables?”
- “Can’t they (the food bank) just put stuff in a bag and hand it to them? Do we really have to bring it out to them?”
- “ I really have to clean my house and go grocery shopping.”
These were just a few examples of what I heard. When my Operations Coordinator Carolyn Stinemates advised that there was a real need for more support there, I decided it was my duty to step in and help.
Well, I received an eye opening, and a heart filled with sadness, joy, and much gratitude for having this opportunity to be there and to help our communities.
The first day, I was sorting good vegetables and fruit in the morning. Then the bank opened for people to come park in front.
We take their order and note the number of family members. We run that back inside to the warehouse where there are other people bagging and boxing just about everything (including some sweet treats, which everyone needs now and then).
Then someone brings the cart out to us to deliver to the car.
My first car was a piece of cake. It went smoothly. They said thank you and I told them to have a nice day.
My second car was an elderly woman in her late 80s to early 90s picking up for herself and a neighbor. I loaded a couple small boxes into her trunk and walked away waiting for them to bring out her shopping cart of groceries.
I just got back inside when I heard someone ask for some assistance. I walked to the door and there by her car was my little lady. She needed help closing her trunk.
When I asked why she wanted it closed her response was, “I can’t drive down the road with it open, dear.”
I smiled and told her the rest of the groceries would be out shortly. Her eyes got big and she said, “There is more?”
I smiled and said yes, there is more.
Shortly thereafter her cart came for me to load into her car. She stood there looking at me with bewildered eyes. “Who does all that belong to?” she asked.
When I told her it was hers and her neighbors, she started to cry. She was so grateful.
But best of all, she and her neighbor had been sharing the small amount of food they had left in their cupboards since neither of their families had come to bring them shopping in about six weeks due to Covid-19.
Someone told them they could go to the food bank for groceries, but she told me they still had some canned food and powdered milk left and we didn’t want to take away from those who really needed it.
My heart swelled and we both had tears in our eyes. To watch as we loaded bag after bag into the trunk, the tears falling down her cheeks were priceless to me.
I was bringing joy, and much needed food to two wonderful ladies.
So to me, seeing the need, the gratitude, and overwhelming joy from receiving food was more than words could express.
Every person who has come when I have been there has so much appreciation. You cannot help but enjoy being there and be a part of a community that helps those less fortunate and especially, our senior population.
The work is priceless. It will fill your heart and soul.
Working as a team with others and the staff at the food bank to accomplish this task is amazing. They are the best. I am grateful to help.
I greatly appreciate everyone who will, has, and have been supporting this important mission.
Thank you all!
Jackson, CA – Saturday, September 12, 2015 – The American Red Cross has established a public information line for inquiries from the public regarding Red Cross services during the Butte Fire.
Gold Country News and Notes 