Greetings!
Though there continue to be challenges resulting from the pandemic, I am encouraged by the strength and compassion of our community.
Thousands of families visited River City Food Bank (RCFB) for the first time in the past year. Cindy, a single mom in the Arden Arcade area, never dreamed she would need charitable food assistance. She said, “I was embarrassed and ashamed that I could not take care of my family, but I had nowhere else to turn.”
She reluctantly visited RCFB, and expressed surprise and gratitude for the warm welcome, healthy groceries and pet food! Guided by core values that include dignity, compassion and respect, RCFB works to provide families throughout Sacramento with dependable, consistent access to healthy foods because no one should be hungry.
River City Food Bank served nearly 15,000 people in March and we could not do that without your support! Thank you for volunteering time, donating food, making charitable contributions and connecting with us on social media. Your generosity inspires me and makes our community a healthier place.
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Amanda McCarthy
Executive Director
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Big Day of Giving is less than a week away!
Over the past year, our neighbors have visited River City Food Bank in record numbers - a staggering 30% increase from the prior year. Although we are still seeing that need, we have also seen the overwhelming generosity from our community. THANK YOU!
Please join us on May 6, 2021 to celebrate all of the incredible work you have made possible with your kindness.
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Community Partner Spotlight:
No Kid Hungry
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River City Food Bank is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded $83,000 from No Kid Hungry to better serve children facing hunger in the Arden-Arcade area!
This funding will allow staff to implement a mobile food distribution at Encina Preparatory High School and Greer Elementary to provide healthy, nutritious groceries to more than 200 families each month.
According to No Kid Hungry California Director Kathy Saile, "Far too many California families have faced hunger and hardship this year, as the coronavirus pandemic and devastating natural disasters have made it difficult to put food on the table. No Kid Hungry is proud to partner with the River City Food Bank to keep children and families nourished and healthy in this difficult time. We’re incredibly grateful for staff and volunteers working day in and out to feed our community and remain committed to supporting their heroic work.”
We are proud to have No Kid Hungry as a Community Partner and are grateful for their generous support!
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Volunteer Appreciation Month
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April is Volunteer Appreciation Month! We are grateful for the amazing volunteers who donate their time and talents to alleviate hunger in our community.
In 2020, despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, volunteers donated an incredible 18,615 hours to ensure that their neighbors facing hunger has access to healthy, nutritious food.
We truly could not fulfill our mission without the dedication, hard work, commitment and passion of our volunteers. Each day, they go above and beyond to serve our community, live our core values and bring our mission to life.
To everyone who has ever volunteered with us- Thank you for showing up with a smile on your face and love in your hearts. You have made a difference.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities or schedule a volunteer shift, click here.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church and it's incredible congregation have donated to River City Food Bank for the past decade. Their ongoing support provides healthy groceries to thousands of families experiencing hunger in our community.
Beth Going, a long-time congregation member, passed away in 2019 and left a generous gift to the church to use in the most impactful way that they saw fit.
RCFB is humbled to announce that it was selected to receive $27,000 to assist with emergency food distribution services and ensure that we are meeting the growing need for charitable food assistance in Sacramento.
We are beyond grateful for this opportunity and the Going Family’s legacy of compassion and kindness.
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CalFresh assistance is currently available by appointment or drop-in at our emergency food distribution site in Midtown (1800 28th St. Sacramento, CA 95816) on Tuesday - Thursday from 10:30am- 1:30pm.
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CalFresh Updates
Emergency Allotments Continue: CalFresh recipients who did not receive the maximum benefit in March received a supplemental amount on their EBT card on April 18. The next allotment will take place on May 16.
Increase in CalFresh benefits: CalFresh recipients who are currently receiving the maximum amount will receive an additional $95 in May.
P-EBT 2.0 coming this Summer: Families with children ages 0-6 and those attending school will receive a 2nd round of Pandemic EBT funding (P-EBT) this summer. P-EBT cards will be issued to allow families to shop at their local grocery stores and farmers markets.
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Want to join our team?
RCFB is hiring a full-time, bi-lingual CalFresh Outreach Assistant. We are looking for candidates who speak fluent Spanish, Russian, Farsi or Chinese. Please click above for job description and instructions on how to apply.
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Thank You CalFresh Funders
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Kathy and R.B. have been married for 69 years and are as in love today as the first day they met. R.B. is a veteran and they share 4 children and many grandchildren together. They have worked hard their whole lives and lived in Sacramento for 30 years. Recently, they have needed the food bank for the first time ever.
“We never received any other resources before. Now as we age, we have more medical expenses and we need to get all the help that we can.” Kathy says.
Due to the pandemic, they were participating in a free dine-in program for seniors and received a brochure about the CalFresh program at River City Food Bank. They visited for the first time to apply for CalFresh benefits and picked up groceries at the same time. Now they will not have to decide between having food in the pantry and paying medical bills.
Kathy was surprised to see all of the fresh, healthy options while going through distribution and she praised all the volunteers and staff for their hard work. Kathy & R.B. feel comfort in knowing there is a place for them when they are in need, and encourage others to do the same.
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Healthy Recipe of the Month
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Savory Lentil Soup
With support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), RCFB has served nearly 5,400 pounds of lentils to guests this month!
Ingredients:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
28 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup chopped fresh collard greens or kale, tough ribs removed
1 medium lemon
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Instructions:
- Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.
- Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.
- Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot.
- Add the chopped greens and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice to your liking.
- Serve while hot. Leftovers will keep well for about 4 days in the refrigerator, or can be frozen for several months. Yields 4 Bowls of Soup.
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Contact Us
PO Box 160204
Sacramento, CA 95816
916-446-2627
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Midtown Distribution
1800 28th St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
Tuesday-Thursday
10:30am-1:30pm
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Arden-Arcade Distribution
2300 Edison Ave
Sacramento, CA 95821
Friday: 10:30am-1:30pm
Saturday: 10:30am- 1:30pm
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Follow us on Social Media!
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BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE HUNGRY
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