As part of a “Bowl-a-Thon” event, art students at Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom today finished off the last of 200 bowls they donated to River City Food Bank for its upcoming Empty Bowls event. The fundraiser, slated for Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9 at the Masonic Temple, 1123 J Street in Sacramento, aims to raise at least $80,000 to feed growing numbers of hungry adults and children in the greater Sacramento area. “We are deeply grateful for the energy and dedication of Marianne Dana’s art students, especially during this time of difficult budget cuts for public schools,” said Eileen Thomas, Executive Director of River City Food Bank (RCFB). “Many more people are turning

California State Employees in the Sacramento area together with Sacramento Emergency Foodlink (Foodlink), began collecting food in early November 2009 and continued through January 2010 for the annual Food Drive. This year, despite state furloughs and salary cuts for many state employees, there was a record amount of participation among California State Departments and Agencies with over 200 offices partaking in the Food Drive.  As a result, over 770,000 pounds of food were collected which is an increase from last’s year total of 758,000. “The Food Drive sponsored by California State Employees is one of our largest food drives of the year," says John Healey, President/CEO of Foodlink.  "Y

Seven years ago, as I lay in a hospital bed, amazed to be alive, depression knocking on the door, I made a commitment to find joy everyday. It’s that commitment to joy that led me to work at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services years ago. I am the Manager of an art program for women who are going through hard times. "Hard times" is much more complicated than that very broad term. We tend to visualize the women working the streets or men panhandling at the intersections, and shopping carts with worldly belongings. I don’t expect an explanation from the women who come to this program but eventually their story comes out. Stories of illness, lost jobs, lost love, lost dignity, expensive me

     By now most of us are getting a little tired of hearing about Christmas, but this is one short story that we all want, and need, to hear about. On December 22 my six year old son and I went to the Saca center on Del Paso Blvd. This day is one of the most memorable days of the year as we were able to witness a true Christmas miracle that most people only see in the classic Christmas movies. What we saw was the Saca center giving an awesome Christmas to over 274 families in the surrounding neighborhood of Del Paso Heights. Most of these families came from the local neighborhood of the Saca center, probably clients of their Community center and Mother Baby program. It is especially nice

I’ve been volunteering at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) on a regular basis for the better part of a year now. Generally, I’m there twice a week; more if they’re having an event or need a little extra help. The holidays are always a busy time at SFBFS with their Turkey Drive, Run To Feed The Hungry and Adopt-A-Family all happening in quick succession. Despite the immense amount of planning required for these events and the short time frames, these events are always tremendously well organized by the SFBFS staff, so all that we volunteers have to do is show up. I was fortunate enough to help out at the Thanksgiving events this year and thoroughly enjoyed them, thus I was lo

On October 30, 2009, staff and volunteers from various programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) attended the 9th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards luncheon at Arden Hills Resort. This event, put on by the Volunteer Center of Sacramento and DOVIA, is the largest volunteer recognition ceremony honoring Sacramento area volunteers. Nominees come from a wide range of agencies, with areas of volunteerism ranging from education, animals, heath, family services, hospitals, shelters, counseling and much more. Many SFBFS program managers take advantage of this opportunity to recognize their dedicated volunteers by nominating the dedicated and accomplished volunteers we have at SFBFS.

What better way to celebrate the holidays this season than to get in the spirit of giving! Here at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services there are two great ways that families and individuals can contribute to making the season brighter for others in our community. Adopt-a-Family allows us to get into the spirit of giving by donating gifts specifically selected for a family in need. Contributors recieve the names, genders, ages, clothing sizes and any specific needs of family members and gather gifts for the family or individuals. Families then receive these gifts just in time for the holidays. This project benefits than 500 local families right here in our community who otherwise could

Individuals wishing to purchase a $5 raffle ticket to win a $25,000 diamond ring have just two weeks left. Rogers Jewelry Co. and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) have tickets available now through December 30, 2009. In June, nearly 1,000 individuals participated in the first annual Race for the Rock, a text message-based scavenger hunt via bicycle through downtown Sacramento. Participants answered historical clues and tracked down hidden information in hopes of uncovering the amazing prize. The event’s entry fee benefited programs at SFBFS. The winners of Race for the Rock went home with a 1.5 carat diamond ring. Within weeks of the event, the winning couple decided to dona

This year, 28,500 Sacramento residents participated in the event, raising over $800,000 to support programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Your participation in the Run to Feed the Hungry helps families in need via our various programs including: -Food assitance -Clothing -Mother Baby Program -Adult Education -Women’s Wisdom Art These programs and services are made possible because of contributions from supporters like you. To find out more information about Run to Feed the Hungry, including fundraising deadlines, category 
winners or to look up your finish time, please visit www.runtofeedthehungry.com. We appreciate and welcome any feedback and ideas from race participant

About 60 community members gathered at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services last night to make the holidays a little bit brighter for Oak Park's children.   The Oak Park Neighborhood Association has collected 300 toys for its Oak Park Toy Give-Away, which began Nov. 22 and will continue until Dec. 18. "Imagine knowing that you may not receive a gift...Kids everywhere look forward to the thrill of opening gifts and we want to make sure that kids in Oak Park get to experience the excitement," said board member Michael Boyd, "Even more importantly, we want them to know they live in a community that cares about them; a community that values them, and a community that will help them."