Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Kelly Siefkin

Sheet Metal Workers Union Apprentices & Contractors assist Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services in bringing financial resources to Oak Park residents

2013-01-03T01:48:22Z

Who: Sheet Metal Workers Union Apprentice Program, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, AFL-CIO Community Services & the IRS’s VITA/EITC program.

What: Installing a heating unit in a facility to house AmeriCorps volunteers

Where: Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, 3333 Third Street, Sacramento, 95817

When: Thursday, January 3, 2013 9 a.m.

On Thursday, January 3rd the Sheet Metal Workers Union Apprenticeship program will be donating their time and expertice in an on-the-job training exercise, by installing a heating unit system donated by their contractors. They will be updating an aging Victorian home that Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services will use to house volunteers of the AmeriCorp program this winter and spring.

These AmeriCorps volunteers will be trained in tax preparation through the IRS’s Volunteer Tax Assistance(VITA) & Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) programs. The VITA/EITC program is designed for low to moderate income taxpayers to enable them to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets, thereby investing/spending that money in the local economy.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is serving as a EITC/VITA program site this year to assist the residents of the Oak Park area in free preparation of their taxes and to receive the important tax credit, which will allow them to spend that money in local Oak Park busineses.

Please join the festivities as the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 104 District 2 Apprenticeship Program, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, and AFL-CIO Community Services Department team up to give back to the local Oak Park community and its residents!

For more information please contact Greg Larkins, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison, at (916) 208-4734.

Editor’s note: Every Thursday we deliver a local event guide straight to your inbox, right on time to make your weekend plans. Sign me up.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and posting this release on behalf of Greg Larkin

One Click Per Day Keeps the Doctor Away

2012-12-14T01:32:01Z

Typically it’s an apple that keeps the doctor away, but for the month of December, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is extending that saying to include all fruits and vegetables. And, more importantly, how to prepare them.

Aprons in Action, The Home Depot Foundation’s monthly Facebook voting program, recently nominated SFBFS for December's competition. Only one of four selected charities, SFBFS has the opportunity to win a $25,000 gift card to Home Depot to finish the outdoor kitchen in the Demonstration Garden.

SFBFS’ Demonstration Garden began growing fresh fruits and vegetables in February 2012 and continues to provide fresh produce year-round. Items grown in the garden supplement weekly food distributions in the community as well as teach children and adults where food comes from. SFBFS built the Demonstration Garden to help families understand that they can take an active role in improving their health. Many families who receive services from SFBFS struggle with severe health concerns including high cholesterol, childhood obesity and diabetes. Each of these issues can be combated with proper nutrition, so SFBFS changed its food distribution model nearly 5 years ago and began offering an abundance of fresh produce instead of processed foods. Clients were overjoyed to receive such a gorgeous selection of fruits and veggies from local farms, but many were unfamiliar with the items and few knew how to prepare them for family meals. This concern spawned the idea of an education-focused gardening and food preparation area. The Demonstration Garden was born.

Just 10 months later, the Demonstration Garden is thriving and classes covering composting, seed saving and what to do with an abundance of zucchini are filled every week. The next step in the Demonstration Garden is to install an outdoor kitchen so families can learn how to prepare the food they grow or the items they receive at a food distribution.

In October, Rebuilding Together Sacramento got the ball rolling by nominating SFBFS for the Rebuilding Dreams project. Because of voters like you, SFBFS won the Rebuilding Dreams project and Rebuilding Together installed a foundation, structure and plumbing for the outdoor kitchen. SFBFS is now in the home stretch stage of construction and would greatly benefit from winning The Home Depot Foundation’s Aprons in Action award.

Vote for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to finish an outdoor kitchen for the Demonstration Garden! Just follow these easy steps:

• Visit http://apronsinaction.homedepotfoundation.org/
• Select the VOTE button to the right of Rebuilding Together Sacramento
• Vote once per day now through December 31

It's that easy. No form to fill out and the process will take less than 5 seconds. This contest runs on Facebook through the end of December and any member of Facebook can vote once per day for the charity of their choice. Remember that one click per day will help keep the doctor away by improving the health and providing nutrition education for local families in need.

Please cast your vote to make a difference for families in Sacramento!

It’s the easiest kitchen project you’ll work on all year.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

19th annual Run to Feed the Hungry

2012-11-14T03:06:02Z

What has 54,000 legs, 27,000 smiles and a huge impact on our community? Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ annual Run to Feed the Hungry.

This event, which raises support and awareness for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is a Sacramento tradition. Local families turn out by tens of thousands to take part in one of the largest Thanksgiving Day race in the United States.

Parents with strollers, professional runners, high school athletic teams and family members visiting from out-of-town can all be found sprinting, strolling and jogging their way through East Sacramento.

This year’s 19th annual 5K and 10K fun run and walk is expected to draw 27,000 participants. The event, which is owned and operated by SFBFS, raises funds to support six different programs including Food, Clothing, Parent Education, Adult Education and more. These programs offer free services and education to than 20,000 men, women and children in need every month.

SFBFS has owned and been the sole beneficiary of Run to Feed the Hungry since its inception in 1994. Thanks to additional donations, generous sponsors, loyal participants and a very large number of volunteers, the event operates with a very low overhead and provides incredible support for SFBFS' programs year round.

The registration fee is $35 per person or $20 for children and includes a long-sleeved technical shirt.

There is still time to sign up to participate, volunteer or join a team. There is also some new run attire available this year. Those who make an additional $50 or more contribution during registration will receive a Run to Feed the Hungry knit beanie this year. This item will not be sold on Thanksgiving Day.

Only a few days remain until Thanksgiving, so register today! Registration in advance of Thanksgiving Day is encouraged, as shirts are only guaranteed for those who sign up by November 21. Timing chips are also limited to the first 7,000 people who sign up to be timed.

Is your spouse dragging you to Iowa for a snow laden Thanksgiving? Do you have 49 relatives descending on your living room around 11 a.m.? Are you more of a napper than a jogger? Then sign up as a virtual participant. Your registration fee supports programs at SFBFS and you’ll still receive your shirt, but you don’t have to run or walk on Thanksgiving morning.

Visit www.runtofeedthehungry.com for more information about this great event to benefit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

We look forward to seeing you on Thanksgiving Day!

Click here to register and like the event on Facebook.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

5th annual Turkey Drive

2012-11-14T02:02:48Z

The morning air is crisp and cool. The signs of fall are all around and one of the most exciting and busiest seasons is fast approaching for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. It all kicks off this Friday with a plethora of turkeys.

KCRA and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services are hosting the 5th annual Turkey Drive on November 16, 2012. Each year, the event has grown to meet the need of hungry families in our community. Thank you to our generos community members who make this holiday a little brighter for families experiencing hard times.

This year's Turkey Drive will take place at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' Oak Park facility (3333 Third Ave - near 34th & Broadway) between 4:30am and 7:00pm .

Please consider dropping off a donation of a frozen turkey or packaged side dishes during the day. Volunteers from this year’s sponsors (Papa Murphy’s, Wells Fargo and Save Mart) will be onsite to thank donors and unload turkeys.

This is a great opportunity to bring kids down and show them the benefits of helping someone less fortunate. Consider posting this flyer at your school or office to let others know they can participate.

KCRA will be onsite broadcasting throughout the day. Smile for the camera as you drive through and drop off your turkey. No need to even get out of the car!

Every donated turkey will be distributed the week of Thanksgiving to a local family in need.

Event details:
Date: November 16
Time: 4:30am-7:00pm
Location: SFBFS - 3333 Third Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Construction day is here!

2012-10-25T16:46:02Z

Today, Choice Hotels and Rebuilding Together are working to build a new outdoor kitchen for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ Demonstration Garden. Volunteers will be on site (3333 Third Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817) from 9am-4pm today painting, installing and prepping the area where nutrition education will soon take place.

Last month, Choice Hotels partnered with Rebuilding Together to host a competition between four charities accross the nation. Supporters cast their vote and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services won!

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' Demonstration Garden broke ground earlier this year to help families understand that they can take an active role in improving their health. Many families who receive services from SFBFS struggle with severe health concerns including high cholesterol, childhood obesity and diabetes. Each of these issues can be combated with proper nutrition, so SFBFS changed its food distribution model nearly 5 years ago and began offering an abundance of fresh produce instead of processed foods. Clients were overjoyed to receive such a gorgeous selection of fruits and veggies from local farms, but many were unfamiliar with the items and few knew how to prepare them for family meals. This concern spawned the idea of education-focused gardening and food preparation area. The Demonstration Garden was born.

The Demonstration Garden is thriving and classes covering composting, seed saving and what to do with an abundance of zucchini are filled every week. Over the summer, clients harvested bushels of tomatoes, melons, squash, corn, peppers and cucumbers. Constructing an outdoor ktichen s the final piece of connecting food to families. With a new outdoor kitchen, families in need will be able to learn how to prepare the food they receive from SFBFS or grow at home.

Local officials will be onsite today from 1:30-2pm to welcome the new site of nutrition education to Sacramento. Please join us to celebrate Sacramento Food Bank & Family Service's new outdoor kitchen.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Virtual Food Drive

2012-10-03T23:32:03Z

Each holiday season, hundreds of local companies host a canned food donation drive to support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). In an effort to provide more nutritious foods, SFBFS is hosting a new donation drive concept: the virtual food drive. Instead of individuals cleaning out their cupboard to donate near-expired products, families can make a financial donation, which will be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for families in need.

The virtual drive offers individuals and companies the opportunity to sign up for their own online fundraising page, set a goal and ask friends, family and co-workers to support SFBFS. Over the past 18 years, SFBFS’ holiday donation drive has grown from a handful of participants to over 360 locations. Executing this massive, in-kind donation drive costs thousands of dollars each year in fuel, time and materials. During the 2011 drive, over 50% of participating locations returned less than 100 pounds in donations (that’s less than one-third of a barrel). Additionally, many of the in-kind food donations that SFBFS receives cannot be distributed because they are past expiration, crushed or the seal is broken. This results in thousands of pounds of discarded food.

Funds raised through the Virtual Food Drive will be used to support SFBFS’ Food program, which currently distributes take-home groceries to over 15,000 men, women and children each month. With an increasing number of new faces coming to SFBFS each year, staff and volunteers are working harder than ever to provide fresh, seasonal produce, health screenings and educational children’s activities to families in our community. SFBFS can stretch financial donations by using massive buying power and community partnerships to provide more to those in need. In fact, a donation of $12.60 provides a family of four with a five day supply of fresh produce from SFBFS.

It’s incredibly easy to sign up for the Virtual Food Drive. Simply check the box for “Virtual Food Drive” on the 2012 Fall Drives Form, found on the Host a Donation Drive page of SFBFS’ Web site. Companies and organizations choosing this option will receive a welcome e-mail with easy-to-follow instructions and a link to create their own personalized fundraising page. Add a special welcome message, picture or logo, send out invitational e-mails to friends, family and staff and set a fundraising goal. Then simply direct supporters to your fundraising site where they can make a quick, safe and secure online contribution. You can even link your company’s Web site to your SOG fundraising site!

About Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is a local, privately funded, non-profit organization serving families in need since 1976. A staff of 40 and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. More information is available at www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Two clicks is all it takes to help Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

2012-08-30T19:09:31Z

Will you make two clicks to help families become more self-sufficient?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) opened the Education & Technology Center in February 2012. The new facility can now accommodate more families by offering parenting classes, technology workshops and courses that greatly improve a client’s ability to secure employment. Adjacent to the new Education & Technology Center is the 7,600 square foot Demonstration Garden, which produces fresh produce year-round. Items grown in the garden supplement weekly food distributions in the community as well as teach children and adults where food comes from.

The Demonstration Garden was built to help families understand that they can take an active role in improving their health. Many families who receive services from SFBFS struggle with severe health concerns including high cholesterol, childhood obesity and diabetes. Each of these issues can be combated with proper nutrition, so SFBFS changed its food distribution model nearly 5 years ago and began offering an abundance of fresh produce instead of processed foods. Clients were overjoyed to receive such a gorgeous selection of fruits and veggies from local farms, but many were unfamiliar with the items and few knew how to prepare them for family meals. This concern spawned the idea of education-focused gardening and food preparation area. The Demonstration Garden was born.

The Demonstration Garden is thriving and classes covering composting, seed saving and what to do with an abundance of zucchini are filled every week. This summer, clients have harvested bushels of tomatoes, melons, squash, corn, peppers and cucumbers. The next step is to install an outdoor kitchen so families can learn how to prepare the food they grow or the items they receive at a food distribution. The space in the Demonstration Garden is primed and ready to go, all SFBFS needs is your vote!

Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve safe and healthy homes, teamed up with Choice Hotel’s Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn hotel owners to help community centers in need through the Rebuilding Dreams project. Rebuilding Together Sacramento has chosen to build an outdoor kitchen at SFBFS. It’s up to America to choose a winner.

Vote for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to receive an outdoor kitchen for the Demonstration Garden! Just follow these easy steps:

• Visit http://www.choicehotels.com/rebuildingtogether
• Select the button to the left of SFBFS' blue logo
• Click the green SUBMIT button at the bottom of the screen

It's that easy. No form to fill out and the process will take less than 5 seconds. You can only vote once per computer so make sure to vote at work, vote from your computer at home and vote from your smart phone!

Voting runs now through September 14 and the winner will be announced on Sept. 17. For more information about the Rebuilding Dreams contest and to cast your vote, visit www.ChoiceHotels.com/RebuildingTogether. Please cast your vote to make a difference for families in Sacramento!

It’s the best two clicks you’ll make all day.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

SFBFS Receives Huggies Brand Diapers to Distribute to Families in Need

2012-08-22T23:55:09Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is excited to share the exiting news that we received 100,000 Huggies diapers through a partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S).

As part of a year-long initiative to get diapers to families in need, NDBN and K.I.D.S. have partnered together to donate 20 million diapers to regional and local diaper banks and local service providers throughout the United States, including SFBFS. With this donation, SFBFS will be able to provide approximately 500 Sacramento area families each month with diapers through SFBFS’ Parent Education program.

The Parent Education program is designed to service families in Sacramento County by offering free, family-related courses on topics such as nurturing parenting, positive discipline techniques, budgeting, health, nutrition, stress management, school readiness, play groups and more. Families with children ages 0 – 5 receive credits after the completion of each course which can be traded in for infant and toddler supplies such as diapers, formula, clothing and much more.
Before SFBFS received this donation of diapers, our organization was experiencing a decrease in donations and we were struggling to provide diapers to the families in our Parent Education program. Now, thanks to this wonderful partnership, thousands of families will benefit from these diapers for their babies. Just a few months ago, Priscilla and Michael started participating in the Parent Education program. They recently both lost their jobs and the diapers provided by our program enabled the family to focus their limited finances on other needs for their children. Priscilla’s testimony has touched our hearts.

“After we lost our jobs we were faced with no income and very little hope of employment in the near future. We felt that life was hard, but not overwhelming until then. For the first time ever, we found ourselves in social service programs for help with basic needs of food, help with our utilities and baby supplies. It has being a blessing to find the Parent Education program. I never thought in my life that I would ever have to seek out help, but I did. I want to tell you how grateful I am and how this makes it possible for my husband and I to sleep easier. We are living in times where families are in places the never dreamed they would be in, nor prepared to be in.”

SFBFS Parent Education program managers, Mireya Estrella and Lorena Carranza, said that diapers are the most frequently requested items among families served at SFBFS. “Disposable diapers are very expense to buy. Clients are very excited to receive diapers and there is a high demand for them,” Mireya said.

“As a donation based organization we are completely indebted to the National Diaper Bank Network for its donation for disposable diapers. It has made a great impact to the children and families we serve,” Mireya said. “Without the donation we surely would have fallen short in keeping up with the demand of the much needed product.

Thanks a million National Diaper Bank Network!

Submitted by Lorena Carranza, Parent Education Program Manager

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin and Lorena Carranza are employees of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Race for the Ring is Just Around the Corner

2012-06-28T18:43:52Z

Grab your mobile phone, tune up your cruiser bike and get ready for an experience you’ll never forget. The 4th annual Race for the Ring, sponsored by Bank of America, will send out the first clue from Raley Field on July 14th at 10am. This exciting, text message based scavenger hunt will send hundreds of adventure seekers throughout downtown Sacramento looking for clues, solving riddles and mastering unique challenges. All participants are competing for amazing prizes provided by Roger’s Jewelry Company.

In a new twist this year, Rogers Jewelry Company will provide nine unique rings, all valued around $5,000 each, for the winning team to choose from. Participants need not be hoping to become engaged to play. This competition is for everyone ages 18 and up. Other prizes for top finishers include gift certificates to local restaurants and other cool surprises.

Worried you won’t place in the top spots? No worries, there are still chances to win incredible prizes for best team name and best accessorized team! Not to mention you’ll walk away with a cool shirt, goody bag, full stomach and hysterical memories. Check out the excitement in last year’s video.

Registration is $50 per team of two and includes:
• Two t-shirts
• Entry into the after party with beer garden and live band
• Lunch for two
• Goody bags
• Chance to win amazing prizes

All proceeds from the day benefit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local charity serving thousands of families in need with food, clothing and education every month.

Click here for more information and to sign-up. Just a few weeks left to register!

Not a fan of biking? Going to be out of town that weekend? Not a big texter? You can still support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services by being a virtual participant. Register for the event and you’ll receive your shirts and goody bags after the event.

See you on July 14!

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Anything with a cord: Food bank hosting e-waste recycling event

2012-06-12T00:14:36Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is hosting an electronic waste recycling event at their Oak Park facility on June 20. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs at SFBFS.

Old computers and outdated printers readily come to mind when you think e-waste, but it turns out anything with a cord can be recycled. Have a broken hairdryer at home? An electric toothbrush that’s run its course? A lava lamp from your old dorm room? Christmas lights living past their prime? Please drop off your electronics on June 20 from 10am-2pm at SFBFS’ facility: 3333 Third Ave (between 34th & Broadway). Click here for a map. All items will be recycled by California Electronic Asset Recovery (CEAR). Items will be broken down and melted into new plastics or smelted to form new metal.

Two SFBFS staff members recently toured CEAR’s facility at ~~McClellan~~ Mather and were blown away by the size of their operation. Everything from old ceiling fans to broken radios and even outdated informational CDs filled bins throughout the warehouse. Front end loaders scooped huge collections of vacuum cleaners and curling irons and dumped them into the Big Green Machine which uses centripetal force to break down items and produce small particles of plastic and metal.

Almost anything can be recycled. Click here for a list of acceptable and not acceptable items (no washing machines and tires, for example). Please share this flyer with neighbors who need to clean out their garage or pass along to ther person who oversees your department - perhaps they have an industrial shredder, company coffee maker of fax machine that has seen better days.

Thank you for doing your part of keeping items out of our local landfills. We look forward to seeing you on June 20.

Editor's note: Edits were made to the location of CEAR after publishing.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is a staff member at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Race for the Ring is Back!

2012-05-17T17:59:15Z

Fans of TV’s globe-trotting race game can now test their strategies and stellar cluesolving prowess right here in Sacramento! Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is preparing to host the 4th annual Race for the Ring on July 14, 2012. Hundreds of Sacramento area residents will return for this exciting, location-based game where clues and answers are exchanged via text messages. Participants race from location to location on bike, scooter or foot throughout Downtown and Midtown solving riddles and interactive challenges. Points are awarded for each correctly answered question or properly completed challenge and the team with the most points at the end wins! Prizes include jewelry from Rogers Jewelry Company and gifts from Sacramento-area vendors.

The $50 registration fee for any team includes two race shirts, entrance into the after-party, lunch, a chance to win amazing prizes and a guaranteed day of fun. 100% of the proceeds support SFBFS’ programs. For the price of a modest dinner for two, any pair of friends, relatives, co-workers or those hoping to become engaged can support families in need in our community. In an effort to keep the event fun and competitive, we’ve limited registration to the first 500 teams. In addition to the top 10 finishers winning incredible prizes, prizes will also be awarded to best team name and best-accessorized bicycles. A silent auction will also be offered to raise funds for SFBFS.

For those who can't make it out for the event or are not the world's best texter, individuals can be a virtual racer. Participants still receive shirts, may join the after party and the registration fee supports SFBFS.

What: Race for the Ring
Where: Downtown Sacramento (kick-off and after-party at Raley Field)
When: July 14, 2012, Registration opens at 9 a.m., kick off at 10 a.m.
Who: Anyone age 18 and up
Why: To support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services th

Click here to regsiter. See you on July 14!

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Turkey Distribution

2011-11-18T00:29:57Z

On Monday, November 21, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS), a local non-pofit organization serving families in need, will host its annual turkey and holiday food distribution. On this special day SFBFS will serve thousands of Sacramento families experiencing hardship this season. There are no zip code restrictions to receive holiday food, only a limit of one per household.

This year's distribution is different from previous years in that SFBFS will offer one longer day of service instead of two days of morning-only service. In an effort to assist working families, SFBFS will begin service at 8am and go well into the late afternoon/early evening.

Turkey distribution will begin at 8am and tickets will be distributed, one per household, beginning at 6am - first come, first served. SFBFS will distribute all of the turkeys that are collected on Friday, November 18 during the annual Turkey Drive with KCRA. Any turkeys collected over the goal will be shared with other pre-determined charities.

The line to receive a turkey moves very quickly and there is no advantage to arriving at SFBFS before 8am. Some individuals who arrived around 10am or 11am last year to receive a turkey reported only waiting in line for 15-20 minutes and that the line moved the entire time. While there is no specific amount of time an individual may stand in the line, SFBFS' primary goal is to serve famlies in need as quickly as possible.

No camping will be allowed overnight, please do not arrive to line up before 6am. No preference will be given for any family or individual over another, everyone must wait in the same line. There are no pick-ups allowed on behalf of other family members, neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. - families must be present to receive a turkey and fixin’s. It is recommended that individuals bring a cart to transport one turkey and two bags of fixin’s. Every family will receive the exact same items and turkeys will be passed out in random order - household size does not determie turkey size. Parking is very limited so please be prepared to park and walk a few blocks to reach the distribution line. It can be very cold so please bundle up, but remember to removed your gloves at the front of the line to receive a hand stamps. The event will take place rain or shine.

Volunteers from PG&E along with SFBFS staff and volunteers will be working to serve as many families in need as fast as possible. SFBFS strives to create a positive atmosphere and serve all families with respect and dignity. This is a fun day filled with music and greetings from a turkey mascot!

It is very important that all families have the opportunity to be together on Thanksgiving with a meal. If anyone is unable to attend SFBFS' one day distribution on Monday, November 21, they are encouraged to contact InfoLine Sacramento by dialing (916) 498-1000.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Servieces

Turkey Drive 8,000

2011-11-09T00:43:32Z

The morning air is crisp and cool. The signs of fall are all around and one of the most exciting and busiest seasons is fast approaching for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

KCRA and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services are hosting the 4th annual Turkey Drive on November 18, 2011. Last year, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services collected 7,053 turkeys thanks to the generous support of local residents. The need is even greater this year and the goal has been set to collect 8,000 turkeys from individuals, families, classrooms and local businesses in a single day.

The Turkey Drive will take place at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' Oak Park facility (3333 Third Ave - near 34th & Broadway) between 4:30am and 7:00pm .

Please consider dropping off a donation of a frozen turkey or packaged side dishes during the day. Representatives from Papa Murphy’s, Wells Fargo and SaveMart will be onsite to assist SFBFS' staff and volunteers to thank donors and unload turkeys.

This is a great opportunity to bring kids downn and show them the benefits of helping someone less fortunate. Consider posting this flyer at your school or office to let others know they can participate.

KCRA will be onsite broadcasting throughout the day. Smile for the camera as you drive through and drop off your turkey. No need to even get out of the car!

Every donated turkey will be distributed the week of Thanksgiving to a local family in need.

Event details :
Date: November 18
Time: 4:30am-7pm
Location: 3333 Third Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Corbett's House of Horror Benefits SFBFS

2011-10-11T17:22:32Z

The spookiest month of the year is here! Get in the spirit by attending opening night at Corbett's House of Horror. Today, October 11, bring canned goods to receive $5 off admission. Corbett's House of Horror will pass on the canned goods and also donate $5 of each admission ticket directly to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services! Check out www.sacramentohaunt.com for additional information. Please note, they only accept cash.

Corbett’s House of Horror is located at1120 Galleria Blvd, Roseville CA 95678. Conveniently located right across the street from the Galleria, nearby many shops and restaurants. Enjoy plenty of free parking in a well-lit lot. Don’t worry about rain, if it’s storming outside, there are lots of indoor activities.

Questions? Contact Corbett’s House of Horror at corbettshouseofhorror@gmail.com or (916) 905-7822.

Gather your friends and family for a spooktacular evening! Thank you for supporting

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is featured on Groupon

2011-10-03T19:55:19Z

Groupon, the popular daily deals and discount site, selected Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services as TODAY’S FEATURED CAMPAIGN from October 3-October 6, 2011!

What does that mean for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
This is a wonderful opportunity to share our mission with a wider audience in Sacramento. Not everyone in our community is aware that Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services distributes fresh fruits and vegetables 16-20 times per month at various locations around town to combat hunger, as well as poor nutrition.

What’s offered by Groupon?
G-Team, the local philanthropic arm of Groupon, is offering a deal of $13 to purchase four days worth of healthy groceries for a family in need.

How much of the daily deal supports Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
100% of your donation ($13) directly purchases food for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ Food program.

How can you be part of this exciting deal?
Click on this link to make a $13 contribution. Make 1, 2 or 3 donations! 40 donations must be made through Groupon to trigger the tipping point. Please help us reach our goal of at least 40 donations to make a difference in the lives of families in need. Once you’ve made a donation, share information about your good deed with friends! A tweet or Facebook post is really helpful.

Thank you to all who are able to give a donation and share this offer.

How do I donate through Groupon?
1. Go to http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-sacramento-food-bank-family-services
2. Click BUY and select quantity. 1 = $13, 2 = $26, etc
3. Complete your order

How can I help spread the word about this great deal?
1. Go to Facebook and share this link:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-sacramento-food-bank-family-services
2. Follow us on Twitter and retweet about this great deal:
@SacFoodBank

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is an employee of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Tessie is Racing for a Reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-05-19T23:54:57Z

This week’s interview is with Tessie Ernst, who has worked for the Xerox Corporation for 24 years and is currently on a one year Social Service Leave of Absence volunteering her time at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. She enjoys the outdoors, especially playing golf!

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My favorite piece of jewelry is a diamond ring that my mother gave me when I graduated from high school. It was my Grandmother’s ring that she gave to my Mom when she graduated from high school so it holds a lot of sentimental value since my Grandmother passed away in 2005.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Yes, but only as part of the committee that is organizing the event. Next year I plan to participate because I LOVE the Amazing Race.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
It is a fantastically fun event for a wonderful cause. It allows teams, business and companies to all be part of helping the community in a creative way.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
I did not participate but I did see all the great footage of the event and looked like everyone enjoyed themselves.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
Volunteering at Sacramento Food Bank & Family services for the year as the Volunteer and Communications Assistant and part of the Race for the Ring committee.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is so much more than food!

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
Everyone should come out to participate in the Race for the Ring event. It is a great way to get some fresh air, exercise and be part of the entire experience. Whether you participate in the race or you volunteer, there is still plenty of time to sign up for either one. There will also be a silent auction at the after-party with some awesome items that participants can get at a screaming deal. You can bid on the items and if you win, we can hold the item for pick up at a later date. Don’t let anything hold you back. Going once, going twice,…SOLD!

Jackie is Racing for a Reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-05-09T21:58:09Z

This week’s interview is with Jackie Goree, the Database Manager at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. She has been an employee with SFBFS for a year and a half. This enthusiastic and compassionate woman is also a massage therapist who is passionate about travel, recently visiting Paris with her mother.

Participants will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My Tanzanite earrings from Mazatlan, Mexico.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Unfortunately, it's the same day as my niece's graduation so I can't volunteer, but I wish I could be there! I loved meeting all of the participants and the After Party was a hoot!

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
It’s a great way to raise funds and awareness for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. The organization continues to impress me with the scope of programs and the number of individuals served each month.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about Race for the Ring?
Last year I volunteered at the After Party distributing water and goody bags. It was fun to see everyone's excitement as they entered the After Party. Everyone was discussing the clues and how much fun they'd had racing around downtown Sacramento. They seemed very greatful to take a break, enjoy lunch and rest a bit.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
As Database Manager at SFBFS, I oversee the tracking of donors, volunteers and clients in our database. I work closely with donors and volunteers to thank them for their support.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
How dedicated each employee and volunteer is to the organization's mission and the clients we serve. The compassion is extraordinary and I love seeing volunteers and staff members going the extra step to make sure families are really taken care of when they ask for assistance.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
Race for the Ring is fantastic and I hope there's a great turnout again this year. Please tell your friends and family to sign up!

For more information about this event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. To learn more about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Eat at Joe's

2011-05-03T17:17:24Z

What do Joe’s Crab Shack and Cinco de Mayo have in common? Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' fundraiser night, of course! Please come out and join the fun on Thursday, May 5 between 5:00pm and 11:00pm. You can enjoy a delicious meal while helping raise funds for a worthy cause. Simply bring THIS FLIER with you to dinner and present it to your server. It is that easy. At the end of the night, 10% of your evening’s total will be donated to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. We included three coupons on this flier so you can post a few at work, give one to a friend or share with a fellow diner.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services has been making a difference in our community since 1976. Eight diverse programs at two sites, along with mobile distributions, are designed to combat hunger, improve literacy, strengthen families, educate youth, foster technological skills,m entor parents, build self-esteem and provide hope.

Not able to join us for dinner on Thursday? Consider being part of the exciting Race for the Ring coming up on May 21. This text message based scavenger hunt on bicycle promises to be the most fun time you'll have helping a local charity. Visit www.raceforthering.com for more information.

Ole'!

Pat is Racing for a Reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-05-02T19:29:58Z

The third annual Race for the Ring is coming to Sacramento on May 21, 2011. This text messaged based treasure hunt on bike through downtown Sacramento is sponsored by Rogers Jewelry Company and directly benefits programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Teams of two will pedal, scoot and wheel their way through downtown Sacramento guided by text message clues in search of over $35,000 in prizes. Each week leading up to the event, we will interview someone who is involved in the race to find out why they are racing for a reason.

Today's interview is with Pat McManus, a volunteer from last year’s event. Pat was born in the Midwest, but moved to Sacramento in 1987. She and her husband began volunteering at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) in 1989. Upon retirement, the pair became very involved with programs such as Sunday Lunch with her husband volunteering five days per week for 10 years until he passed away. Pat came back to volunteer on her own in 2006 and has been helping in Food Assistance and with other volunteer activities ever since. Not even two hip replacement surgeries can slow her down. This canning pro and baker extraordinaire helps families in need several days a week as a regular volunteer at SFBFS.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
Oh my, I have a lot (chuckles). The pearls my daughter gave me 20 years ago are probably my favorite. I wear them a lot. They are very special to me.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Well, kind of, but not as a racer. I'm going to be a clue! Last year, I volunteered as a clue about SFBFS for the racers and I enjoyed it so much, I’m looking forward to doing it again this year.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
Many things. Mostly giving back. I’ve been blessed through my whole life and I am so thankful I can give back through Food Assistance at SFBFS. I strongly support SFBFS in all aspects.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
Being a clue! All the participants raced up to me (I was hidden along the course) and asked me information about the Mother-Baby program at SFBFS. Everyone was very enthusiastic and excited!

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
I currently volunteer at SFBFS and I’m excited to be a clue for this year’s Race.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services (SFBFS)?
The public should be aware that SFBFS does not only provide food to the needy, but we provide additional services such as PlayCare, Youth Academy, Computer Clubhouse and Adult Education. These services can help everyone.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
Come on down, a fun time awaits! Look for me as a clue!

For more information about the event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. For more information about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Chris is racing for a reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-04-25T18:51:49Z

Interview with Chris Wallis, a participant in last year's event and a member of the 2nd place finishing team in the 2009 event. Chris is a researcher and grad student at UC Davis. He has lived in Sacramento for most of his life yet admits he still doesn't know where anything is. However, he believes it's still more pleasant to be lost here than to be lost in most other places.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
I swallowed an earring when I was 5 and it never came out. You could say it's near to my heart, pending x-ray confirmation.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
A full day of good, clean, safe, wholesome fun. And winning, duh.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
Some combination of good times, good causes and the opportunity to collect shiny things.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
Doing arithmetic in the dirt when we didn't have a pen or paper.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
Novice on all counts.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services (SFBFS)?
It's not an acronym, it's just pronounced "sfbfs".

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
I'm looking for a replacement main wiring harness for a '97 Toyota Avalon, if anybody is letting one go on the cheap.

For more information about the event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. For more informaiton about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Lily is racing for a reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-04-18T18:36:14Z

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Yes, but I need to borrow a bike! I love getting outdoors, walking around and being out in the sun. Sacramento is a great place for a treasure hunt!

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
I love the significant impact that Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services has on families in our community. I am motivated because of the people I work with at SFBFS. I enjoy everyone from the clients to the volunteers to the staff. I like to think I’m making a real difference in people’s lives.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
Last year I got to spend a lot of time with a friend I don’t get to see very often, which was really nice. This is a really great event to do with a close friend who can finish your sentences and knows how you think - a great recipe for an efficient racing team!

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
I am a current volunteer in Clothing and Women’s Wisdom Art programs at SFBFS and a 2011 Race for the Ring hopeful!

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
I wish people knew about all of the other services the organization provides, not just food. A lot of people don’t know that, but they should! Every time I mention the organization, everyone thinks it’s just food, but it’s so much more!

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
I challenge everyone to come out for a day of fun to support a great cause!

For more information about this event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. To learn more about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Jason is racing for a reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-04-11T21:27:54Z

Interview with Jason Hone, who placed in last year's event with his wife Stephanie. Both Jason and Stephanie hail from Southern California’s Inland Empire. Jason grew up in Redlands and Stephanie was raised in nearby Riverside. The pair married, moved to Sacramento and Jason started a new job all in the same week. After living downtown for nearly five years the Hones recently moved into a home in West Sacramento – so they are definitely excited that the race is headquartered on the westside . . . of the river.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
The Tissot watch I won in last year’s race. Oh, Stephanie might be reading this, definitely my wedding ring! For me jewelry is best when it is reminiscent of something - so whether it’s a hard won prize or a symbol of commitment, I like having a reason to wear it.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
You bet! And I’m looking forward to out-smugging certain Land Parkers this year. But failing that, at least toasting the hallowed afterbeers with good friends.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
Where else can you find such an “amazing race” experience in Sacramento? As for the cause, I’m definitely impressed by the committed people and the good works you find at SFBFS. I’ve volunteered in their warehouse, tutored in their afterschool programs and helped out at special events like the Turkey Drive. It’s a great feeling to be part of something special like this and to have fun doing it too!

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
The thrill of solving a puzzle and the frenzied dash to the next clue. That’s two things.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
We’re going to be racers and hopefully winners.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
It’s way more than a food bank! Not only do they distribute food and clothing to Sacramentans in need, they have programs serving children, expectant and new mothers, English language learners, and teens, just to name a few.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
This may be the only time this year I ride a bicycle. The only legitimate reason for not racing is not knowing about the race.

For more information about this event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. To learn about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

HEALTH-CHALLENGED, LOW-INCOME POPULATION GOES PLANT-BASED TO LOSE WEIGHT AND REVERSE DISEASE

2011-04-05T22:50:28Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) embarks on a new partnership with the EarthSave International, a non-profit organization that will launch an exciting new program called Meals For Health (MFH) on April 8, 2011. MFH is a 30-day intervention that provides low-income families with education and support to eat a healthy, low-fat, plant-strong diet in order to dramatically improve their health. There is no cost to participants and all support, food (donated by Whole Foods) and materials will be provided. MFH participants are individuals who currently receive services from one of SFBFS’ programs such as Adult Education, Mother-Baby or Women’s Wisdom Art.

Health improvements, weight loss and disease reversal of MFH participants will be measured and tracked under medical supervision of physicians throughout the 30-day program. Local food coaches and dozens of volunteers will assist participants in completing their journey. Food coaches provide regular support, ongoing education, potlucks and video presentations.

MFH is a health program which has been shown to reverse high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Experts on the MFH team have run similar programs and seen results in tens of thousands of participants. However, this pilot program is the first of its kind in a low-income population. The groundbreaking intervention takes a selected group of very low-income clients from SFBFS who suffer from serious health problems and turns them into plant-strong eaters. Participants learn about healthy nutrition, easy food preparation, exercise options and low cost shopping strategies in order to successfully transition their families to a healthy, unprocessed, whole food plant-strong eating style.

MFH will plant seeds and spread sensible nutrition to interested families and individuals across the Sacramento community and has the potential to significantly decrease health problems while increasing energy and self esteem, across this challenged population.

The participant roster for this MFH pilot program is complete, but we invite you to SFBFS and see what new and innovative steps are being taken in our community to improve the health and wellness of those in great need. A list of seminars, exercise classes and group meals is available for members of the media interested in covering the program. Participants are also available for before and after interviews/photos. Dramatic results in blood pressure, weight and medication intake is expected by the end of April. EarthSave plans to grow MFH in the Sacramento community with subsequent waves of increasing size, as members of this early intervention groups may go on to become plant-strong leaders and coaches.

For more information about EarthSave International, please visit www.earthsave.org. For more information about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Tom and Jessica are racing for a reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-04-04T20:16:06Z

Interview with Tom and Jessica Pearson, finishers in last year's event. Tom hails from eastern Washington and fancies himself a bit of a mountain man. Jessica grew up in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino/Riverside area) and learned to snowboard on fake snow. They met in Spain while trying to make the most of their undergraduate opportunities via studying abroad. The couple now live in Land Park and spend entirely too much time working.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring and my engagement ring (Jessica) . We have matching wedding bands with inscriptions. My engagement ring was picked out by Tom from a little celtic jewelry shop in Jackson, CA.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
Yes, we are both looking forward to dominating. And gloating, gloating is good, too.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
Tom used to work for SacramentoFood Bank & Family Services and had a great experience supporting their mission by teaching English to adult language learners. Now he is getting his Masters Degree to do the same. So many of our friends work at or volunteer for SFBFS that it seems like an extended family.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
Winning fourth place, and getting to feel smug for knowing downtown Sacramento really well (this helped with the clues), a skill that normally generates little fanfare.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
Just a pair of ring hopefuls this year.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
That they have tons of family programs for kids, adults and seniors alike. They really try to meet a variety of family needs to allow families to help themselves through classes and other offerings, the Family Services part is larger than most people realize.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
We had so much fun last year that we’ve recruited lots of friends for this year’s event. We look forward to some friendly competition. And the refreshing quench of afterbeers.

For more information about this event or to register to participate, please visit www.raceforthering.com. For more informaiton about Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Race for the Ring 2011

2011-03-31T18:45:34Z

Fans of TV’s globetrotting race game can now test their game play right here in Sacramento! Rogers Jewelry Company is preparing to host the 3rd annual Race for the Ring on May 21, 2011 to benefit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). 2,000 Sacramento area residents are expected to turn out for this exciting, location-based game where clues and answers are sent via text messages. Participants race from location to location in Downtown and Mid-town on foot and bike solving riddles and challenges while earning points. The team with the most points at the end wins! Prizes include over $30,000 worth of jewelry from Rogers Jewelry Company.

The $40 registration fee for any team includes two race shirts, entrance into the after-party, lunch, a chance to win amazing prizes and a guaranteed day of fun. 100% of the proceeds benefit SFBFS to help in their efforts of serving families in need.

What: Race for the Ring
Where: Downtown Sacramento (kick-off and after-party at Raley Field)
When: May 21, 2011, 10 am
Who: Anyone age 18 and up
Why: To support Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Registration is now OPEN! For more information, including video from last year’s event, please visit www.raceforthering.com

Interested in sending many people from your company or becoming a sponsor? SFBFS is looking for sponsors to help brighten the future of families in need. Please check out this sponsorship flier to see if your business would like to be part of the Race for the Ring as a sponsor. Sponsors will receive booth space at the kick-off event and after-party held at Raley Field, logo placement on participant t-shirts, complimentary registrations and scavenger clues with information about your company!

Know others who might want to participate? Please consider posting this participant flier where customers, friends, neighbors or fellow employees can learn about this fun event and encourage them to form a team.

About Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization serving families and individuals in need since 1976, offers eight diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 40 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online, including how to volunteer or lead a donation drive, at www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

About Rogers Jewelry Company
Rogers Jewelry Company has been helping clients celebrate their stories of love, success and commitment for over 70 years. Rogers was founded in Modesto, CA in 1937 by Harry Marks, a young jewelry professional, and Dr. Robert Moon, a partner with equal vision. These two entrepreneurs built Rogers Jewelry Co. on the foundation of honesty, trust and integrity that continues to permeate the company and the communities they serve. Rogers has grown from a single location in downtown Modesto to a chain of nine stores stretching from Bakersfield, CA to Reno, NV. For more information about Rogers Jewelry Co, visit www.thinkrogers.com.

SFBFS - Serving our community since 1976

2011-03-31T18:34:27Z

Father Dan Madigan founded Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) in the basement of his Oak Park church in 1976. Pained by watching so many people go hungry on the streets of Sacramento, he called together a small cadre of compassionate volunteers to tackle the problem. Over time, the number of facilities, staff and volunteers grew to meet the ever increasing need in Sacramento. His passion for helping individuals and families in need is still alive and well in the wide array of programs and services offered by SFBFS.

SFBFS currently operates two large facilities, in Oak Park and in North Sacramento, serving neighborhoods with families experiencing some of the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and child abuse in the Sacramento area. Over three decades, the number of programs and services offered by SFBFS grew from food and clothing to include adult education, child development and technology.

SFBFS runs a very lean, grassroots organization with an incredibly efficient, professional staff of 40 and a volunteer workforce of over 4,000 annually. SFBFS continues to meet the increasing demands for services by leveraging donations when purchasing food, baby supplies and reading materials for pennies on the dollar.

SFBFS provides free emergency goods and services to nearly 20,000 men, women and children each month. All programs at SFBFS are offered free of charge.

Food Assistance - Provides a five day supply of emergency, take-home groceries to thousands of clients every month. Individuals and families in need can receive fresh produce, dairy, grains and canned goods at mobile distribution sites throughout the Sacramento area.
Clothing - Distributes donated men’s, women’s and children’s clothing items to those in need at no charge. Clothing articles include suits for interviews, school uniforms and seasonal weather attire.
Mother-Baby - Guides parents in raising children in a healthy and supportive manner. Diapers, formula, food and clothing are provided for parents attending educational workshops.
Adult Education - Provides one-on-one instruction to adults in reading, writing, math, computer skills, resume building and English.
Women’s Wisdom Art - Offers a variety of art classes to women overcoming loss or depression, surviving cancer and helps build self-confidence.
PlayCare - Offers an enriching daycare for toddlers of parents attending classes through Adult Education. This co-operative program encourages parental involvement, interactive games and preparing youth for kindergarten.
Youth Academy - Provides enrichment for elementary-aged youth focusing on literacy and independent thinking. This program encourages academic success, character building, social development and service.
Computer Clubhouse - Encourages junior high and high school students to explore technology classes including web design, animation, basic computer skills and video production.

SFBFS provides these goods and services at no cost due to the generous support of donors through individuals and company contributions as well as special events. SFBFS hosts the annual Run to Feed the Hungry every year on Thanksgiving Day. Nearly 30,000 Sacramento residents turn up on their day off to spend time with family and raise awareness of those less fortunate in our community. This Thanksgiving will mark the 18th year for the Run to Feed the Hungry, an event that generates nearly $1 million to support programs and services at SFBFS. SFBFS also partners with Rogers Jewelry Co. to host an event each spring called Race for the Ring. This scavenger hunt for jewelry uses clues sent via text message to challenge participants to solve riddles throughout Downtown and mid-town Sacramento. Prizes include diamond rings, men’s watches, bicycles and more. Please join us on May 21 for a day of fun to support SFBFS!

If you are interested in becoming involved with SFBFS either by volunteering, leading a donation drive, participating in an event or referring someone in need, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org for more information.

Peter's Racing for a Reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-03-28T16:53:54Z

Interview with Peter Skipper, a finisher in last year's event. Peter teaches 5th grade math in Brooklyn, New York. In his free time, Peter writes screenplays, plays guitar and travels as far away from home as possible.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelry Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
I have a watch from Rogers Jewelers that I won at last year's Race for the Rock, and it brings me good fortune whenever I wear it.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?
I wish! This event is so fun, but NY is a bit of a bike ride for me this year.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?
People shouldn't go hungry in the richest country on earth.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?
Challenging our friends Chris Suter and Chris Wallis and beating them significantly.

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?
Race participant/Sacramento enthusiast/stand-in for all Tobey Maguire look-a-like related emergencies.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?
It's more than just food. Everybody forgets the Family Services part.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?
Please come out! It's the most fun you'll have volunteering all year.

Race for the Ring is almost here!

2011-03-26T21:07:37Z

The third annual Race for the Ring (formerly Race for the Rock) is coming to Sacramento on May 21, 2011. This text messaged based treasure hunt on bike through downtown Sacramento is sponsored by Rogers Jewelry Company and directly benefits programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Teams of two will pedal, scoot and wheel their way through downtown Sacramento guided by text message clues in search of over $35,000 in prizes.

Check out the recap from Race for the Rock 2010 and 2009

"Like" Race for the Ring on Facebook

Cristina's Racing for a Reason - 2011 Race for the Ring

2011-03-21T23:19:51Z

Interview with Cristina Stoyle , a participant in last year's event. Cristina is the Veterinary Advocacy Coordinator for Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association

A bit about our racer

I've lived in the Sacramento area most of my life and, despite what some might say (I'm talking about you, Forbes magazine!), I think it's a pretty great place to live. Since graduating from University of California-Davis in 2004, I've turned my passion for animals into a career and have been lucky to work for two incredible animal protection organizations. In my spare time I volunteer for a few causes (including waking up bright and early each Thanksgiving morning to volunteer for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services' Run to Feed the Hungry), support the thriving performing arts community in Sacramento and enjoy hanging out with my my trio of rescued/adopted pets: Cooper the much-loved Pomeranian, the grumpy-but-lovable Serendipity and goofy-but-lovable Buster (both cats).

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelery Company. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?

My watch; my wrist would be naked without it.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?

Definitely, I wouldn't miss it! I'm most looking forward to learning how much I don't know about my hometown.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is a much-needed resource for people in need, and Race for the Ring is a great way to support the amazing work they do while having fun!

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?

Seeing all the participants madly dashing around Downtown on bicycles, scooters and skateboards--and the confused bystanders trying to figure out what was going on!

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?

This will be my third year in a row racing with my friend Alexis Raymond (perhaps the third year's the charm?) and I have volunteered for SFBFS' Run for the Hungry for the past three years.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services provide much more than food to individuals and families in need; they also provide clothing, support to new mothers, after-school programs, adult education, creative opportunities and more.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?

Go Team Rolling Groans (we need to work on a new team name)!

Dave's racing for a reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-03-15T17:36:33Z

The thrid annual Race for the Ring is coming to Sacrament on May 21, 2011. This text messaged based treasure hunt on bike through downtown Sacramento is sponsored by Rogers Jewelry Co and directly benefits programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Teams of two will pedal, scoot and wheel their way through downtown Sacramento guided by text message clues in search of over $35,000 in prizes. Each week leading up to the event, we will interview someone who is involved in the race to find out why they are racing for a reason.

Interview with Dave Katten participant in last year's event.

A bit about our racer

Former Sacramento resident and connoisseur of fine Californian burgers. Oh Squeeze Inn, how I miss your cheese skirt.

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?

No, sadly I'm no longer in Sacramento, which is a bummer since the Race is literally my favorite event of the year.

What motivates you to be part of this cause?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services does so many great things for the community, that the Race is really a privilege to participate in. Sure the prizes are great, but it's such a fun morning, and it's for a great cause. There is absolutely no downside to this race - it's fun, it's good exercise and it helps people who do great things for the the Sacramento area.

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?

Easy - me and my buddy had only lived in Sacramento for 2-3 years, but our friends were lifelong residents and knew midtown back and forth. On top of that, neither of us biked much at all, and our friends were supercyclists. Like, Ironman-quality. Heck, those guys even scouted potential locations and questions. So when we won something and they finished just outside of the prizes...oh man, that was sweet. But even before I found out we did well, it was just a great, fun adventure around the city. With the added bonus of a competitive spirit :)

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?

I know a few staff members and volunteers at SFBFS who who told me about the Race.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services does so much more than distribute food. It offers adult classes in many areas, computer courses and clothing. SFBFS is there to help the community in myriad ways, and it's run by top people; really, the folks that volunteer and coordinate are just top notch.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?

Best. Event. Ever. Defitely the most fun I had in Sacramento.

Michelle's Racing for a Reason - Race for the Ring 2011

2011-03-07T19:10:01Z

Interview with Michelle McCauley, contestant in last year's event.

A bit about our racer

Michelle grew up in Southern California and moved to Northern California in 2001 to attend University of California, Davis. While at Davis I was a coxswain on the women's crew team for 4 years and met my husband Scott. In 2006, the pair married, moved to Sacramento and Michelle began working in the fund development department at WEAVE (Women Escaping a Violent Environment) located in downtown Sacrmento. While working at WEAVE she met staff members at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) who introduced Michelle to the wonderful programs and volunteers at SFBFS. Michelle began participating in SFBFS' infamous Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day. Michelle enjoyed supporting the organization, but her slight obsession with the CBS show Amazing Race drove her and her husband to immediately sign up for the event. The pair had even applied to be participants on the globe-trotting show and Michelle knew they would do well. "It's such a good fundraiser, who would not want to participate?" Last year Michelle and her husband created "Team Rock Solid" and the pair really enjoyed biking around downtown Sacramento. The two hope to participate again this year. Michelle currently works for Media Solutions, a local women owned media buying agency as a Media Buyer. In her spare time, she enjoys serving on public relations/events commmittees for various non-profits in Sacramento, running or biking on the beautiful American bike trail and spending time with friends and family enjoying all Sacramento and the surronding areas have to offer.

Racers will be racing around town in search of jewelry graciously donated by Rogers Jewelers. What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?

My wedding ring

Are you participating in this year's Race for the Ring? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?

I would participate if I wasn’t going to be 8 months pregnant. I LOVE this event and can’t wait to participate in 2012!

What motivates you to be part of this cause?

I love knowing that every dollar I give to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services goes directly to Sacramento families in need. I realize all non-profits have overhead cost, however when you give to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services you see exactly where your dollars are being spent. It’s our responsibility to give back to the community we live in...why not have fun doing it? This event is unique, fun, well organized, and most of all provides services to Sacramento families in need!

If you participated last year, what was your favorite thing about the race?

I love participating with my husband. We had the best time biking around Sacramento and pretending we were on the Amazing Race. The clues were fun and we loved learning more about Sacramento!

What is your role with Race for the Ring 2011 and/or Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services?

I will help out in any way I can! I am sure my friends and husband will participate this year.

What is one thing the public might not (but should) know about Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services?

Anyone in Sacramento County can utelize various services at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. They have a wonderful volunteer program and great staff.

Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or the event?

I encourage everyone to participate in this event!

SFBFS program highlight: Clothing program

2010-12-02T01:41:16Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) offers eight varied programs, including the greatly impactful Clothing program. For more than 20 years, the Clothing program has grown and expanded to provide a wide range of service to over 100 clients every weekday. Having recently undergone some organizational changes, the shopping area now offers distinguished sections for men, women and children’s clothing, plus sizes, active wear, business attire, a small teen department and school uniforms. Additionally shoes, accessories, books and toys are often available. The best part of the Clothing program is that all items are available at no costs to individuals and families in need.

Similar to a thrift store, donated items are arranged by size, season, gender and age and clients peruse neatly organized racks and shelves for desired items. However, all items are available at no cost, which can greatly impact a family facing financial challenges.

Volunteers who share their time in the Clothing program aim to provide each client with a dignified and specialized shopping experience. Clients who access the program may choose from thousands of different items on any given day and if their needs are not met, special requests are always welcome. The Clothing program has been able to provide prom dresses and suits, christening gowns and even wedding dresses to extremely thankful clients. In the back room where donations are sorted, volunteers can be found with a smile on their face when they find a specific item that a client is looking for, often an obscure size. Recently clients have been happily surprised to find that the program can satisfy their need for rollerblades, cleats, suitcases, Halloween costumes, new socks and school uniforms.

Many of the clients comment on the warm customer service they receive and the vast range of items available. And no matter what a client receives, it is always free of charge. Everyone involved in the program prides themselves on that ability, but it would not be possibly without generous donations from our community. Every year the Clothing program distributes more than 450,000 donated articles of clothing. Even with this incredible amount of items, the program desperately needs new socks and underwear, plus sized women’s clothing and big and tall clothing for men to continue to meet our client’s needs.

By providing our clients with clothing, SFBFS is able to meet one of their most immediate needs. However, the program is able to go much further than that by providing integrity and compassion with the warm respectful shopping experience. Volunteers hope to enhance client’s self-esteem and by offering business attire, school clothing and exercise gear, SFBFS can help open up opportunities to clients that can help them move more quickly back towards self-sufficiency. That noble task is possible with the donations of time and items from our community. The program’s volunteers are extremely grateful and thankful for all past and future contributions.

If you’d like to drop off gently used clothing at our facility, lead a donation drive or schedule a volunteer opportunity to assist in the Clothing program, please visit our Web site for more information.

Change a life with mobile giving

2010-11-17T22:11:36Z

Nonprofit organizations are feeling the tightening of belts as much as everyone else, so staying current with giving trends is critical for every charity.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is no exception and now offers an opportunity for supporters to give via their cell phones. Donors can now easily make a $10 contribution by texting SACFOOD to 20222. A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance*. In less time than it takes to log on to a website and enter your credit card information, you can help make a difference for a family need.

You might ask, “What does $10 do?” Well, at SFBFS, it can do a lot:

* $10 = 20 articles of clothing for five people – Clothing program
* $10 = 2.5-day supply of quality, healthy groceries for four families of four (40 meals) – Food Assistance program
* $10 = 36 hours’ worth of formula, baby food and clothing for an infant – Mother-Baby program
* $10 = five art classes for two students – Women’s Wisdom Art program
* $10 = one day of technology-based after-school activities for one child – Computer Clubhouse

Due to the great partnerships with local vendors, SFBFS is able to leverage funds to turn every $1 donated into $10 worth of products and services for the Sacramento community. This means your $10 donation quickly becomes $100 worth of goods and services given to families in need at no cost. Want to see your donation in action? Come down to SFBFS for a tour, attend a volunteer orientation or schedule your office to spend a few hours assisting in programs. It’s never been easier to get involved. More information about SFBFS and ways to help is available online at sacramentofoodbank.org Thanks for making a difference in the life of a family in our community. Happy texting!

*All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the “Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services” by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at hmgf.org. Messaging and data rates may apply. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code “20222”; reply HELP to “20222” for help.

We want turkeys!

2010-11-04T22:36:16Z

Start scouring the circulars for good deals on holiday fixings: It’s time for the third annual Turkey Drive.

Each year families visit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) for holiday food assistance to help make their holiday a bit more merry. This year’s turnout is expected to be the largest in the organization’s 34-year history.

SFBFS is anticipating and prepared to provide food for 7,000 families this year. But here’s how you can help. Drop off a fresh or frozen turkey at SFBFS’ location in Oak Park (3333 Third Ave.) from 4:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19. You don’t even need to get out of your car. Just pull up, and a volunteer can unload the turkey.

In 2008, SFBFS put a call out to the community to help collect 500 turkeys. Sacramentans donated 2,677.

In 2009, SFBFS raised the bar to try and raise 3,000 turkeys. Sacramentans turned out in full force dropping off 6,583 turkeys.

With more families to feed than ever, SFBFS challenges you to help provide 7,000 families with a holiday meal. In addition to receiving a turkey, every family will receive a large supply of ingredients to prepare the remainder of its holiday meal.

For the price of a turkey, you can dramatically impact the lives of families in our community. Bring one turkey by. Put the call out to your office and drop off a dozen. Bring all the kids from carpool along and share in the experience of helping others.

Out of town on Nov. 19? Donations of nonperishable or fresh food items are always accepted at SFBFS. Visit sacramentofoodbank.org for more information.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is Communication and Devlopment Director at The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

Join us Thanksgiving morning: Run to Feed the Hungry 2010

2010-11-04T22:19:54Z

What are you plans for Thanksgiving morning? Start asking around, and you’ll likely hear one answer repeated again and again: “Run to Feed the Hungry.”

This event benefiting Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is a Sacramento tradition. Families from our town turn out by tens of thousands to take part in the biggest Thanksgiving Day race in the United States.

Parents with strollers, professional runners, high school athletic teams and out-of-town guests can all be found sprinting, strolling and jogging their way through East Sacramento.

The 5K and 10K fun run and walk is expected to draw nearly 30,000 participants this year. The event, which is owned and operated by SFBFS, raises funds to support eight different programs including food assistance, clothing, mother-baby, adult education and more.

These programs offer free goods and services to more than 20,000 men, women and children in need every month.

SFBFS has owned and been the sole beneficiary of Run to Feed the Hungry since its inception in 1994. Thanks to additional donations, generous sponsors, loyal participants and a very large number of volunteers, the event is able to operate with a very low overhead, and 100 percent of the profit benefits programs at SFBFS.

In 2009, nearly $850,000 were raised for SFBFS programs and services. The event will celebrate its 17th anniversary on Nov. 25, and we hope to see you there.

The registration fee is $35 per person or $20 for children 15 and under and includes a long-sleeved technical shirt designed by a Sacramento artist.

Out of town for the turkey holiday and can’t make the run, but still want to be involved? Become a virtual runner. For just $20, a virtual runner can sleep in, visit relatives out of town and even skip the exercise. And we’ll still mail you the cool shirt.

Want to get everyone at the office involved? Have an active boy scout troop? Belong to a group that loves to give back? Sign everyone up as a team. The group receives specialized shirts with just your logo on the back, great parking, a team photo, a kickoff breakfast and more.

Individuals wanting to make an even greater difference in the lives of families in need can take part in the give and win challenge. Run participants who raise donations to benefit SFBFS earn tickets to be entered into various drawings to win amazing prizes such as tickets to see the Sacramento Kings, an iPad, a flat-screen TV, bikes, Run to Feed the Hungry gear and more.

More information about this exciting event and all the ways to get involved is available online at runtofeedthehungry.com.

Sign-up timelines and deadlines/REI locations and hours 

The time has come to register!

It’s time for the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry, and signing up couldn’t be easier.

Visit runtofeedthehungry.com and click on the “Register Now” button. In just a few easy steps you can sign up yourself, spouse, child, out-of-town aunt, the neighbors and your paper delivery boy all in three easy steps.

Enter your basic info: name, address, shirt size, etc.
Verify your info: This is where you have the option to add more people to your registration.
Check out: You’re registered!

You can sign up online now through Tuesday, Nov. 23 at midnight.

Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for children ages 15 and under. Would you like to be timed? For an additional $5 fee you will receive a timing tag that will record your official time. Select the “timed event” during registration if you would like your race results recorded and posted on the Run to Feed the Hungry website.

Prefer to keep the U.S. Post Service busy this time of year? You can mail in your registration with a check or credit card number. Just download the printable registration form and make sure it’s postmarked by Nov. 13.

Love to wait until closer to the date? You can register at any REI location Nov. 19-24.

Sacramento REI:  1790 Expo Pkwy.
Store Hours:  10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.
Folsom REI : 2425 Iron Point Rd.
Store Hours:  10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.
Roseville REI : 1148 Galleria Blvd.
Store Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday.

Once you have registered, you may pick up your race packet. Your packet includes your bib number, your official Run to Feed the Hungry T-shirt and your timing chip if applicable. The ONLY location for packet pickup is the Sacramento REI. Packet pickup occurs Nov. 19-24. You can also pick your bib and T-shirt from 7:30 - 9 a.m. the morning of the event.

Only a few weeks are left until Thanksgiving Day, so register soon! Pre-registration is encouraged, as shirts are only guaranteed for those who sign up in advance. Timing chips are also limited to the first 7,000 people who sign up to be timed.

Check out runtofeedthehungry.com for more information about this great event to benefit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Disclosure: Kelly Siefkin is Communication and Devlopment Director at The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services

Relive Race for the Rock 2010

2010-07-30T23:49:23Z

Watch the action that took place during the second annual Race for the Rock on June 5, which benefited the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Participants pedaled, scooted and wheeled their way through Downtown Sacramento guided by text message-based clues in search of over $35,000 in prizes.

Thanks to everyone who participated and made Race for the Rock 2010 a huge success!

One week left to sign up for Race for the Rock

2010-05-29T00:42:25Z

There's one only one week left to sign up to participate for the second annual Race for the Rock! See the beautiful jewlery prizes you will have a chance to win, including the grand prize Hearts on Fire $20,000 diamond ring, along with $15,000 worth of prizes donated by event sponsor Rogers Jewelry. All funds raised from this exciting text message-based scavenger hunt on bike will go directly towards the programs and services at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Find out more details by watching our interview on News 10 interview this morning:

To register, please visit the official Race for the Rock website.

'Race for the Rock' and race for a reason

2010-05-06T23:23:31Z

Rogers Jewelry Company is preparing to host the 2nd annual Race for the Rock on June 5, 2010 to benefit programs at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). 2,000 Sacramento area residents are expected to turn out for this exciting, text message-based treasure hunt for over $35,000 worth of prizes from Rogers Jewelry Company.

Teams of two will race through the greater downtown Sacramento area on bike, scooter and foot in search of clues that will lead them to the final prize. The $40 registration fee for any team includes two race shirts, entrance into the after-party and a guaranteed day of fun. 100% of the proceeds will be given to SFBFS to help in their efforts of serving families and individuals in need.

What: Race for the Rock
Where: Downtown Sacramento (kick-off at the Capitol, after-party at House Kitchen and Bar)
When: June 5, 2010, 10 a.m.
Who: Anyone age 18 and up
Why: For a chance to win beautiful Jewelry from Rogers Jewelry Company.

For registration and more information about the event, including video from last year's event, please visit www.racefortherock.com.

About Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization, serving families and individuals in need, was founded in 1976. Over time, SFBFS expanded to meet growing needs and now offers eight diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS' mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

About Rogers Jewelry
Rogers Jewelry Co. has been helping clients celebrate their stories of love, success and commitment for over 70 years. Rogers was founded in Modesto, CA in 1937 by Harry Marks, a young jewelry professional, and Dr. Robert Moon, a partner with equal vision. These two entrepreneurs built Rogers Jewelry Co. on the foundation of honesty, trust and integrity that continues to permeate the company and the communities they serve. Rogers has grown from a single location in downtown Modesto to a chain of ten stores stretching from Bakersfield, CA to Reno, NV. For more information about Rogers Jewelry Co, visit www.thinkrogers.com.

Media Contacts:

Kelly Siefkin (916) 456-1980
kelly@sacramentofoodbank.org

Sarah Pruner (559) 268-9741
spruner@jsaweb.com

Help design 2010 Run to Feed the Hungry t-shirt!

2010-03-16T20:30:20Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is gearing up for the 17th annual Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day, but needs your help starting this March. It is time to begin planning this huge event which involves 30,000 runners and walkers, two beautiful courses throughout Sacramento and raises over $800,000 to benefit programs at SFBFS.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is looking for artwork to grace the front of 30,000 Run to Feed the Hungry participant t-shirts. Think you have what it takes? Design a piece of art for the front/center of a standard t-shirt. The idea can incorporate anything that you believe captures the spirit of the Run to Feed the Hungry, programs at SFBFS or the Sacramento community during the fall. The winning design/artwork will be modified to include the official Run to Feed the Hungry and Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services logos. Colors and layout of the winning submission may be modified to best compliment the color of the event shirt (not yet determined).

Please submit artwork electronically to artcontest@runtofeedthehungry.com by 5:00pm on Friday, April 30, 2010. Entries will only be accepted via e-mail in the following formats: Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop: PDF, TIFF, EPS (High resolution, 300+ dpi). The following formats will NOT be accepted: Jpeg, Gif, Microsoft Word, or any non-standard drawing or painting software.

The winning artwork will be featured on the front of 30,000 Run to Feed the Hungry participant t-shirts and may also be used to promote the event in other formats. All artwork submitted will become the sole property of SFBFS. Artists will relinquish all claims to future ownership. No compensation will be provided for any submitted artwork. The winning artwork will be modified by SFBFS designers to meet event and shirt specifications (addition of event sponsor logos, SFBFS official logo, etc).

Gather ideas for your artwork submission from the official Run to Feed the Hungry Web site at www.runtofeedthehungry.com or find inspiration from SFBFS’ programs at www.sacramentofoodbank.org. The art contest winner will be announced summer 2010.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization, serving families and individuals in need, was founded in 1976. Over time, SFBFS expanded to meet growing needs and now offers nine diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org

Sac Food Bank to host 2nd Saturday art show

2010-02-02T04:05:55Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is proud to host the Women’s Wisdom Teachers’ Art Show throughout the month of February. Teachers and volunteers who lead classes for the Women’s Wisdom Art program at SFBFS will have the opportunity to exhibit their art, a gift that inspires clients in the program year round.

Designed as a uniquely feminine environment that supports the artistic and personal growth of women in all stages of life, Women's Wisdom Art believes that artistic exploration naturally brings greater self-knowledge. Classes are free to clients and include drawing, textiles, clay, mixed media, poetry, gourd crafting, creative writing and painting with acrylics and water color.

Every day, nearly 20 of women congregate in the Women’s Wisdom Art classroom at SFBFS and are guided by a dedicated group of instructors. These individuals spend countless hours planning projects, searching out supplies and creating an environment that supports multi-level art students in one small classroom. This show will focus on the dozen women and one man who inspire our students to achieve greatness.

What: Teachers’ Art Show
Where: Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (3333 Third Ave., Sacramento 95817)
When: February 3-26, 2010
2nd Saturday reception February 13, 5-8pm
Who: The teachers of Women’s Wisdom Art

If you know of a woman who would benefit from enrollment in Women’s Wisdom Art program or know of an artist who would like to volunteer their time as a teacher or mentor, please visit http://www.sacramentofoodbank.org/Programs/WomensWisdom.aspx.A listing of free art classes offered by Wisdom Art and needed supplies is also listed on this site.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization, serving families and individuals in need, was founded in 1976. Over time, SFBFS expanded to meet growing needs and now offers nine diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org

February Volunteer Spotlight: Chris Suter

2010-01-26T00:30:23Z

From October to December 2009, volunteers contributed over 13,800 hours of service at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). One of the top contributors during the busy winter season was volunteer Chris Suter. “He worked basically as an un-paid staff member for two weeks,” says Genevieve Deignan, Director of the Saca Community Learning Center (Saca CLC). She is referring to the last two weeks of December, when the Saca CLC collects donated gifts from the community and matches them to families in need through the annual Adopt-a-Family program. Chris organized the distribution of gifts to over 200 families who participate in programs at SFBFS. Chris volunteered every day for the last two weeks in December, making sure gifts were accounted for and labeled, and devising a system to stay organized. “We could not have completed the Adopt-a-Family gift program successfully without him,” adds Genevieve.

When asked how he came to be an SFBFS volunteer, Chris responds with a laugh. “The economy,” he replies. When Chris lost his job as a fire protection engineer in 2009, he began helping out in the Adult Education program at the Saca CLC, but enjoyed assisting wherever help was needed. In addition to helping students learn English, tutoring in various subjects and even sorting donations for the Mother-Baby program, Chris began to lend his handyman skills around the building. At one point, he noticed some doors at the Saca Center were missing doorstops and took it upon himself to buy and install them on his own. “I enjoy the flexibility of helping out at all different things,” he says.

More than a program volunteer, Chris also supports SFBFS special events and fundraisers. In June 2009, Chris participated in Race for the Rock, a fundraiser benefiting SFBFS where teams of two compete in a scavenger hunt in downtown Sacramento in search of a $25,000 diamond ring. Chris and his teammate thought it would be a fun way to support SFBFS, but also enjoyed placing second in the race. When November came around, Chris volunteered for two other major SFBFS fundraisers, the Broker’s Punt Pass & Kick event and the Run to Feed the Hungry. On November 20, SFBFS held its second annual Turkey Drive, collecting nearly 7,000 frozen turkeys, which were distributed the following week. Chris volunteered for both days of turkey distribution. Once again, Chris worked alongside staff members after most other volunteers headed home, clocking twelve hour days of service each day. He smiles as he recalls building “turkey mountain” in the large walk-in freezer in the Oak Park warehouse to assist with the sorting of turkeys into bins based on weight. “He is a great example of someone that is doing something beneficial with his time while he looks for work,” says Genevieve. “He has fun and is helping the community at the same time.”

Chris, a Sacramento native and recent UC Berkeley graduate, is modest about his contribution. “I have the time, and I enjoy using it this way,” says Chris. “I see the effect that the SFBFS staff has on the people they are helping, and it feels good to contribute to that. I’ve put my volunteer work on my resume, but a one line description just doesn’t do justice to everything that goes on at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.”

Written by Robin Simpson of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

350 families adopted through SFBFS program

2009-12-29T22:55:01Z

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 looking forward to the Christmas Adopt-A-Family program. The program was being led by the staff at the Saca Community Learning Center (an SFBFS satellite office in North Sacramento). The program sought to help clients who attended the classes offered and received services over the past year. In all, 274 families signed up. If one only looked at the numbers, facilitating gifts between 274 adopted families and those doing the adopting would seem a small task when compared with recent events providing Thanksgiving food boxes to 5,500 families, arranging the distribution of 3,000 frozen turkeys to other community groups, or trying to coordinate parking for 28,000 Run To Feed The Hungry participants. However, as the adopting families began to bring in their holiday purchases, it quickly became evident that this was no trivial undertaking. For ease and organization, as the gifts came in, the gifts were put into large bags, several gifts to a bag; and most families had multiple bags. Doing the math, then, you realize that the number of Christmas presents that we were dealing with easily reached the several-thousands.

I was given the task of organizing the gifts as they came in so they could be catalogued and then easily located when the time for distribution came. We set up a numbering system and organized two huge rooms full of gifts. We sorted out gifts that had lost labels, tracked down presents that had been separated from their mates and rewrapped packages that had lost their wrapping. We tracked the gifts as they came in and monitored them as they went out. Hiccups arose and were sorted out (primarily by Genevieve Deignan, Saca CLC Building Director, who really made this whole thing work), and by the evening on Wednesday December 23rd we had brought in, catalogued, organized and then distributed Christmas presents to over 350 families (because of the tremendous outpouring of gift donations, we were able to make up another 75+ gift bags to give to those who hadn’t signed up as part of the Adopt-A-Family program).

So it was finally over. We’d worked for many weeks, organizing a ton of gifts, to give to a huge amount of deserving people. When working on big events like these, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers - turkeys donated, runners attending, families adopted. They’re tactile; a way to measure your success. But in the end, though, you realize that it isn’t about the numbers. They’re not the point. They’re not the reason you do this. Helping a man carry gifts to his car and knowing that the kids in the back seat will have something under their Christmas tree is the point. The gratitude in the eyes of an elderly grandmother taking care of her three young grandchildren is the point. Seeing the eyes of another volunteer well up from being able to help someone who has nothing; that is the point. These are the reasons we do this. The people at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services know this better than anyone.

The above was written by SFBFS volunteer Chris Suter

9th annual SFBFS Volunteer Spirit Awards

2009-12-23T23:46:05Z

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.
This year, like years past, SFBFS nominated several outstanding volunteers in various categories. The nominees included Aiyana Pearson (Women’s Wisdom Art program) as Volunteer of the Year Supporting Arts and Recreation, Donald Moore (Adult Education program) as Volunteer of the Year Supporting those Less Fortunate, Minnie Jimenez (Clothing program) for the Heart of Gold award, Colin Keiner (Run to Feed the Hungry fundraising) as Youth Volunteer of the Year, Carrie Detwiler (Mother-Baby program) for the Ray of Light award, Nellie Mackie (Clothing program) for Lifetime Achievement award, and Hank Greenfield (Adult Education program) for the Salt of the Earth award.
All nominees were honored at the luncheon; however, it was Hank and Nellie who took home the awards. Nellie, receiving the award in the Lifetime Achievement category, was recognized for her 19 years of volunteer work in the Clothing program. Nellie has taken it upon herself to make improvements to the Clothing area, purchasing supplies, and taking pride in keeping the shopping area tidy and organized. She is very dedicated, arriving at 7:15am every Monday and Tuesday morning. Nellie has also trained countless other volunteers in the program.
Hank Greenfield, the Salt of the Earth award winner, volunteers at the Saca Community Learning Center in the English as a Second Language classes. Since August of 2006, Hank has contributed over 500 volunteer hours. The Saca Center does not have a full-time ESL teacher and SFBFS relies on volunteers to run the education classes. Hank goes above and beyond by preparing lesson plans at home, providing one-on-one tutoring and even substitute teaching for other classes. Because of Hank’s volunteer commitment, over 50 ESL students are served daily.
SFBFS staff was thrilled to take home two awards and have the opportunity to recognize seven excellent volunteers. “It’s a really nice way to tell volunteers that the time they spend with our organization means a lot to us,” says Volunteer Services Manager Robin Simpson. “Volunteers are vital to all our programs so it’s wonderful to be able to recognize that whenever we get a chance.”

Photos are of Hank Greenfield and Nellie Mackie

More than 100 families still awaiting holiday adoption

2009-12-16T00:37:10Z

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 not afford to shop for holiday gifts.

Holiday meal baskets are another great way to share in the spirit of giving. SFBFS is accepting donations of holiday meal gift baskets. The composition of the baskets is up to the donor, from hams to rolls, canned goods and pies. This project will benefit an additional 500 families this season!

Make the season brighter for a local family and share in these projects. Consider collaborating with friends, family or co-workers to adopt-a-family or create a holiday meal basket! If you are intereseted, contact Genevieve Deignan at gdeignan@sacramentofoodbank.org or by phone at (916) 648-8736.

A Big Thank You for your continued support this holiday season!

Happy Holidays from SFBFS!

Originally written by Rachel Marine on the SFBFS blog

Gift drop-off location:

Saca Community Learning Center
2469 Rio Linda Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815

Final weeks of Raffle for the Rock contest

2009-12-15T21:27:27Z

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 donate the ring to SFBFS to be used as a fundraiser to help families in need. SFBFS is now hosting a raffle for the ring – Raffle for the Rock.

Raffle for the Rock tickets are $5 each. There is no limit to the number of tickets an individual may purchase, but participants must be 18 years of age to participate. Tickets are on sale now through December 30, 2009.

Tickets are for sale at the following locations. Please stop by to purchase raffle tickets, take a tour or learn how to become more involved with SFBFS:

* SFBFS’ Oak Park location – 3333 Third Ave, Sac, CA 95817. Mon-Fri 8-4 (916) 456-1980
* SFBFS’ North Sac location – 2469 Rio Linda Blvd, Sac, CA 85815. Mon-Fri 9-5 (916) 648-8736
* All Sacramento Rogers Jewelry Co. locations – www.thinkrogers.com

These tickets make great stocking stuffers and holiday hostess gifts as the recipient could win a $25,000 diamond ring. More information can be found online at http://www.thinkrogers.com/rafflefortherock/

The Raffle for the Rock drawing will be held January 4, 2010 at 6pm at Rogers Jewelry Company located at 9217 Sierra College Blvd, Roseville, CA 95661, (916) 782-1505.

Several other prizes from Rogers Jewelry Co. will be raffled off as well. Everyone is invited to attend the drawing. The 2nd annual Race for the Rock is scheduled for June 5, 2010.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization serving families and individuals in need since 1976, offers nine diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

SFBFS thanks 2009 RTFTH participants

2009-12-15T01:07:44Z

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 participants. Please send us suggestions for improvement to comments@runtofeedthehungry.com.

I invite you to stay involved with Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services year round. Please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org for information on becoming a volunteer, leading a food drive or participating in an event. Thank you again for your dedication and support of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

Run to Feed the Hungry: Something to be thankful for

2009-11-27T07:33:22Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is thankful for a wonderful turnout at the 16th annual Run to Feed the Hungry. The final number of participants is still being tallied, but at least 29,000 individuals participated in today’s event. This morning’s 5K and 10K offered a split start time, a single finish line and new race routes.

“The turnout at this year’s Run is unbelievable,” shares Blake Young, President/CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “Our organization is so thankful for the support we receive at this event and year round. None of our service delivery would be possible without the support of the Sacramento community.”

Run to Feed the Hungry participants of every age and athletic prowess braved the cold temperatures to take part in Sacramento’s largest fun-run. Many showed their enthusiasm with festive hats, costumes and layer upon layer of sweatshirts. Bright sunshine and energizing music kept Run participants going strong.

Funds raised from today’s event will support SFBFS’ nine programs including: Food Assistance, Clothing, Adult Education, Women’s Wisdom, Youth Academy, Mother-Baby, PlayCare, Haven’s Transitional Living and Computer Clubhouse.

November Volunteer Spotlight: Carrie Detwiler

2009-11-23T23:46:42Z

Carrie, a retired Sacramento area elementary teacher, had always been interested in volunteering at SFBFS since she had several students over the years whose families benefited from Food Assistance and other SFBFS programs. After retiring, Carrie began volunteering in the Mother-Baby program at Oak Park, and her involvement grew over time.

Starting off as a mentor to new families, Carrie would sit down and talk with new moms and dads about raising their babies. It became obvious that Carrie has a unique ability to bond with families and provide them the guidance needed. Her compassion and ability to really listen are the keys to her connections with the families. New parents appreciated Carrie’s kind and caring nature. Eventually, Carrie started making a difference in the lives of hundred of families by leading some of the Family Life workshops in the Mother-Baby program. These parent education workshops teach new parents skills to help them raise their children. Carrie currently leads classes on Child Safety, Developmental Stages of the Newborn, and Story Time, which is a perfect fit for the former teacher. Carrie also recently organized an event for the children of Mother-Baby clients. On September 29, she held a special Story Time celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the popular children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Through events like this, Carrie has shown many families just how fun story time can be.

In addition to her work mentoring the Mother-Baby families, Carrie also sorts donations, hangs clothing, organizes the baby food and diapers, and assists parents in shopping for baby clothing when they come to the Mother-Baby program. During the summer, Carrie noticed a need for donations of diapers, and started a diaper drive in her community. The diapers came at a particularly difficult economic time for many families.

Carrie jumps in wherever she is needed. When the time came for SFBFS to recruit volunteers to speak at outreach events in the community, Carrie was one of the first to volunteer. Her compassion for all the families served in Mother-Baby is evident to all she meets, making her a wonderful ambassador for the organization. Lorena Carranza, Mother-Baby program manager at Oak Park, comments on Carrie’s compassionate nature, saying “All volunteers, staff members and clients who know her always find that Carrie is a wonderful person with a beautiful heart.”

Written by Robin Simpson of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services

Thanksgiving events at SFBFS

2009-11-18T20:16:55Z

SACRAMENTO, CA – Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is preparing for the busiest Thanksgiving season in the organization’s history and invites you to become involved. From donating turkeys to jogging through town, Sacramento residents can help families in need this holiday season.

November 20: 2nd Annual Turkey Drive 3,000
4:30am – 7:00pm
SFFBS Oak Park facility – 3333 Third Ave (near 34th & Broadway)

Please drop off a frozen turkey or any packaged holiday side dishes such as potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie filing, stuffing, etc. on November 20. Last year, Sacramento residents donated 2,766 turkeys to this worthy cause. This year, the need in our community is even greater. Please help us provide holiday boxes for thousands of local families.

November 23 & 24: Turkey Distribution
9:00am – 1pm
SFFBS Oak Park facility – 3333 Third Ave (near 34th & Broadway)

Holiday boxes complete with a turkey and all of the wonderful Thanksgiving trimmings collected on Friday will be distributed to families in need starting at 9:00am each day. For Thanksgiving, SFBFS would like to see every family be able to celebrate the holiday together. Several thousand families are expected to arrive each day. With a new layout to increase distribution efficiency, families should be served holiday boxes from SFBFS in record time.

November 26: Run to Feed the Hungry
8:45am – 11am
Sac State – J Street entrance

Celebrate one of Sacramento’s greatest traditions by participating in the 16th Annual Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day. A 5K and 10K course are available for participants of all ages and abilities. New race route, staggered start times and a universal finish line are some of the exciting changes for this year. A turnout of 30,000 people is expected. Individuals can sign up to participate, volunteer or join a team at www.runtofeedthehungry.com

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization serving families and individuals in need since 1976, offers nine diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org

Second annual SFBFS Turkey Drive

2009-11-13T01:54:37Z

Looking for a way to help this holiday season? Consider donating a turkey (or any Thanksgiving meal fixin’s) on Friday, November 20 for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) 2nd annual Turkey Drive. Last year, Sacramento residents donated 2,766 turkeys to this worthy cause. This year, the need in our community is even greater. SFBFS helps families overcoming difficult times such as employment layoffs, depression, loss of a family member or loss of a home. Volunteers and donors help provide a 5-day supply of take home groceries to these families at no cost, serving upwards of 17,000 unduplicated men, women and children per month. For Thanksgiving, SFBFS would like to see every family be able to celebrate the holiday together with a traditional meal; turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings.

SFBFS invites you to visit the Oak Park facility between 4:30am and 7:00pm to drop off a turkey. SFBFS is located at 3333 Third Avenue (near 34th & Broadway). KCRA 3 will be broadcasting from the parking lot all day with volunteer stationed to unload cars. Please stop by to meet your favorite TV reporter or new anchor and help families in need. All donated turkeys will be distributed on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week to families in need. For more information, visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org

Run to Feed the Hungry

2009-11-03T22:28:37Z

Lace up your shoes Sacramento, the 16th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is almost here! Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services encourages you to be part of a Thanksgiving tradition. The 5K and 10K fun run and walk launches from Sac State on November 26. This is currently the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the country and this year will be no exception. With 30,000 participants expected to be involved, you are guaranteed a morning of fun with family and friends.

For returning walkers and runners, here are a few changes this year that deserve special attention:

* New Start Time: To accommodate more runners, the 10K will begin at 8:45am and the
5K will begin at 9:05am.

* New Course Route: We encourage you to take in the scenery on our new courses
through mid-town and the fabulous 40s.

* One Finish Line: Instead of 2 separate finish lines for 5K and 10K, all participants will
now cross one finish line. With a larger space for finishing, we’re hoping to
prevent a bottleneck.

Registration is now open. $35 per adult and $20 for children 15 and under. Exciting opportunities for teams as well. Not a big athlete, but still want to help out on Thanksgiving morning? Volunteer! Adults 18 and up are needed to hand out cups of water to joggers, direct traffic, distribute t-shirts and cheer on the participants. 500 volunteers will be needed to assist. Really want to be invovlved in some capacity, but out of town or stuck basting the turkey at home? Be a virtual runner. Receive all of the perks such as t-shirt and knowing you are supporting SFBFS, without breaking a sweat.

Information on registration, teams, volunteering and virtual runners is available online at www.runtofeedthehungry.com

We look forward to seeing you on Thanksgiving morning!

History of SFBFS the services they provide

2009-10-27T22:43:58Z

SFBFS currently operates two large facilities, in Oak Park and in North Sacramento, serving neighborhoods with families experiencing some of the highest rates of poverty, unemployment and child abuse in the Sacramento area. Over years, the number of programs and services offered by SFBFS grew to include adult education, child development and technology.

SFBFS runs a very lean, grassroots organization with an incredibly efficient, professional staff of 35 and a volunteer workforce of over 4,000 annually. SFBFS continues to meet the increasing demands for services by leveraging donations when purchasing food, baby supplies and reading materials for pennies on the dollar.

Programs

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services provides free emergency goods and services to nearly 20,000 unduplicated men, women and children each month. All programs at SFBFS are offered free of charge.

Food Assistance - Provides a five day supply of emergency, take-home groceries to thousands of clients every month. Individuals and families in need can receive fresh produce, dairy, grains and canned goods at mobile distribution sites throughout the Sacramento area.

Clothing - Distributes donated men’s, women’s and children’s clothing items to those in need at no charge. Clothing articles include suits for interviews, school uniforms and extreme weather attire.

Mother-Baby - Guides parents in raising children in a healthy and supportive manner. Diapers, formula, food and clothing are provided for parents attending educational workshops.

Adult Education - Provides one-on-one instruction to adults in reading, writing, math, computer skills, resume building and English.

Women’s Wisdom Art - Offers a variety of art classes to women overcoming loss or depression, surviving cancer and helps build self-confidence.

PlayCare - Offers an enriching daycare for toddlers of parents attending classes through Adult Education. This co-operative program encourages parental involvement, interactive games and preparing youth for kindergarten.

Youth Academy - Provides enrichment for elementary-aged youth focusing on literacy and independent thinking. This program encourages academic success, character building, social development and service.

Computer Clubhouse - Encourages junior high and high school students to explore technology classes including web design, animation, basic computer skills and video production.

Rocket's story and amazing journey

2009-10-26T23:31:57Z

This is the story of Rocket and his journey battling a rare form of cancer called Osteosarcoma. Throughout his diagnosis, surgery and recovery, his Mom, Kelly Siefkin (SFBFS Communication and Development Director) kept her friends and family abreast of his progress. Since his surgery, Rocket has become the unofficial mascot for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. He has had an amazing impact on this incredible organization. Rocket has over 50 visitors a day. Kelly truly believes this has kept Rocket going. This is a heart-warming story about best friends.

Friday 2/8/08

After two visits to the vet to address his persistent, 2-week long limp, Rocket is finally diagnosed with Osteosarcoma – a painful, aggressive and fatal form of bone cancer.

Saturday, Sunday & Monday

I cry endlessly as I struggle with making the decision whether to euthanize him now or amputate his front leg immediately and euthanize later. Neither decision seemed right. Decide to amputate in hopes of temporarily relieving his pain and give us a bit more time together. Prognosis is 3-6 months.

Tuesday 2/12/08

Rocket heads off to the vet at 1:00pm. I receive a call at 11:00pm that he has just come out of 1.5 hours of surgery and did well. He now weighs about 15 pounds less without his front leg.

Wednesday 2/13/08

I receive a call at 9am that Rocket is hopping around at the vet hospital, has already gone for his first 3-legged walk and is now ready to head home. Other than being in complete shock that the surgery went so well so quickly, I’m thrilled. I pick him up to bring him home around 6pm. He has 3 legs, 22 staples, 1 gigantic wound and a lot less hair.

Thursday 2/14/08

Rocket and I worked from home all day. I’m trying to catch up on e-mails as he learns his way around the house on three legs. It is AMAZING how quickly he is adapting to life on 3 legs. He mastered the outside steps immediately and can now lay down easily without falling. Rocket spent most of the day napping outside in the sun and playing with squeaky toys.

I have no idea what the future will bring or how much time we have left together, but our plan is to take one day at a time. We have a few weeks of recovery ahead and we’ll go from there. Rocket and I are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. Thank you for the phone calls, the deliveries of food, the time to think things through, the squeaky toys, the personal stories you shared, the advice and all the good thoughts. We love you so much! Please keep those good thoughts coming.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Hi family and friends,

Hope you are doing well. Just thought I'd drop you a note to let you know how well Rocket is doing. With three legs and lots of fur, this pup manages to live each day to the fullest.

Last week Rocket celebrated 6 months since his leg amputation. An amazing feat considering Rocket was given only 3-6 month to live. While we know the cancer is not going away and his days are in fact numbered, it's been a pleasure to see him enjoy life as he continues all of the things he loves most in the world - fetching tennis balls, chasing squirrels and going for evening walks, which we now lovingly refer to as "going for hops around the neighborhood." He moves much quicker with three legs than four and my power-walking skills are tested each night as we cruise our favorite one mile loop. I actually heard one neighbor refer to him as "that fast-hopping, three-legged dog." His love for this activity makes me put on my shoes every night and go for a walk - we NEVER miss this time together.

One of the things I feel keeps Rocket going is all the love he receives at work. Within a few weeks of surgery, Rocket began coming to the office with me every day. In addition to the peace of mind I have knowing that he is safe and I can keep an eye on him, Rocket loves the more than 50 visitors (volunteers and staff) who stop by every day to give him a hug and a pat on the head. Rocket actually had to go on a diet because he was getting so many treats in the office! I feel so lucky to work in such a caring and supportive environment and Rocket, in turn, has become somewhat of a mascot and ambassador. We've educated hundreds of people about osteocarcoma and impress many with his ability to jump in the air to catch a Frisbee. At Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Rocket is the newest and furriest volunteer for the youth program. Elementary age children take turns reading books to him each week (check out the attached photo). Additionally, the clients in Women's Wisdom, a program that encourages healing through art, enjoy visits from the tri-pod for one-on-one pet therapy sessions and have even requested him to pose for their still-life drawing class. This dog has a million great friends.

Please come by and visit us anytime, I know Rocket would love to see you. Or we can come to you and I can impress you with my abilities to lift a 94 pound dog in and out of the car.

Thank you for sending your good thoughts our way. You have been such an amazing support to both of us.

February 13, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

It is amazing how time has flown by. Can you believe that one year ago I sent out an e-mail letting you know about the successful outcome of Rocket's surgery? More unbelievable is the fact that he was given 3-6 months to live with osteocarcoma, an aggressive and terminal form of cancer, and here he is, as outgoing and troublesome as ever, one year later!

The past year has been such a blessing. Rocket recovered quickly from his amputation and adjusted to life on three legs faster than I ever would have expected. He soon became a fixture at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS), earning the title of unofficial mascot. Having him at work each day is such a joy for me, knowing he is safe and comfortable, but I had NO idea what it would do for him. He quickly rose in rank above me, with people bee-lining to see him each day, leaving me to be the person who takes up space in the dog's office. I'll often come back from a tour of the building to find volunteers cuddled on the dog bed with Rocket or a staff member venting to him about a difficult situation with a client. Lint rollers became as common as staplers on desks and if for some reason the dog didn't make it to work one day (perhaps 3 times total in the past year), I would face the wrath of a upset volunteer. However, the love didn't just permeate adults, it was abundant with kids. Rocket soon became a regular in the After-School program at SFBFS. Elementary aged students that behaved well during the week and completed their homework assignments could earn reading time with the dog, one-on-one.

I'm convinced that the time Rocket has shared at SFBFS has kept him alive and well over the past year. Just like people, I feel animals with incurable cancer can make the most of their situation by surrounding themselves with people they love.

I really want to thank each and every one of you for being so kind and supportive of me and the pup over the last year. I did not think we'd make it this long, but so many of you did. Thank you for your endless good thoughts and prayers. Rocket is the most amazing form of entertainment and joy, thank you for letting me share that with you.

This is an edited version of Rocket's story

Please note: Kelly's last update was February of 2009. It's October 2009 and Rocket is doing great!