#696 | APRIL 1, 2025

CanDo's Napa Food Project Update

By Marilyn Soulsburg, Napa Food Project Steering Committee Member, and Lisa DeRose-Hernandez, Program Director, Community Action of Napa Valley

In March we had the best turnout of volunteers interested in becoming Neighborhood Coordinators (NC)! Six out of seven individuals were actually recruited by current NCs or by friends of other volunteers active in CanDo’s many activities. It reinforces the belief that word of mouth is the best recruitment. We recently developed a small flyer that we will give to our NCs who will be able to hand them out when contacting a prospective volunteer!

The new Food Bank location has been a wonderful perk for the staff of the Napa Food Bank. It is a newer construction and larger, and the forklifts are more easily able to maneuver around the shelving. An added benefit is the Napa pantry, which used to be on Yajome Street, that is now part of the same new location, making it so much easier to keep it stocked with fresh meat, dairy and produce. There is more parking for the CANV trucks and vans, and they can be loaded much easier than before when they shared a common driveway with four other businesses.

What happens to all the donated food?

All of the food that Napa Valley CanDo volunteers collect for the Napa Food Project (NFP) is delivered directly to the Community Action Napa Valley (CANV) Food Bank warehouse. Serving Napa County since 1967, the Food Bank distributes a portion of these donations to nonprofit organizations, such as the CHDC Farm Worker Centers, NEWS, and ParentsCAN, while the majority is used to support Food Bank clients throughout the county. This food is distributed through various Food Pantry Locations across Napa County. A full list of locations can be found at www.canv.org.

Since 2009, local food donations have declined by 48%, while demand has surged by more than 22%. In recent years, the CANV Food Bank has experienced a significant rise in demand, reflecting trends seen across California.

For instance, during the pandemic, the number of households seeking assistance in Calistoga skyrocketed from approximately 50 to over 300. In response to this growing need, CANV expanded its capacity in 2024 by moving to a new 18,000-square-foot facility in South Napa, greatly enhancing its ability to serve the community more efficiently.

Each month, the CANV Food Bank provides food assistance to over 10,000 neighbors, with 38% of these individuals being children under the age of 18, 17% being seniors over 60, and 62% falling under the category of the "working-class poor"—individuals who are employed, often in multiple jobs, but still struggle to afford the high cost of living in Napa County. Contrary to some misconceptions, only 2% of recipients are homeless.

As Drene Johnson, Executive Director of CANV, explains:

"Our clients must choose between buying food, medicine, having a consistent place to live, and/or reliable transportation. Invariably, food is the first thing to be compromised. Hunger prevents seniors, children, families, and local communities from reaching their full potential."

The CANV Food Bank continues to adapt and expand, ensuring that no one in Napa County has to choose between basic necessities and a meal.

Help raise vital funds to support Community Action of Napa Valley (CANV) programs, including the Napa Food Bank and Meals on Wheels, which provide nutritious meals to over 15,000 individuals, seniors, and families in need throughout Napa County every month. Every dollar spent in the auction helps provide 10 meals to those facing food insecurity.

More info

Inspiring Inclusion

Arab American Heritage Month

You may be surprised to learn that Napa has its own Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque. The American Muslim Society of Napa, also known as the Islamic Society of Napa Valley, began in the mid-1980s. The congregation's original house of prayer was in a Napa garage. The mosque was in a rented Solano Avenue storefront from early 1998 to 2002. After that, from 2002 to 2024, the congregation moved to 3149 California Blvd. In 2024, it moved to its present location on Jefferson Street.

Its congregants comprise a diverse and dynamic community composed of, among others, indigenous Muslims and immigrants. The Islamic Center welcomes visitors at all times in order to foster a culture of tolerance and understanding in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is an active and vital part of our community that welcomes visitors who take the time to reach out to them to learn more about Muslims and the Islamic faith. Here are seven pointers to better prepare you for your first visit to the Napa mosque. 

VIDEO: Red, Brown, and Blue: A Muslim Cop’s Story

Officer Omar Salem, police sergeant and SWAT team leader of the City of Napa Police, says in this video, “We couldn’t arrest our way out of the problem; something had to change.” And positive change became his mission.

Officer Salem worked with members of the Napa Valley Unified School District to create a program to identify high-risk students to help lift their self-esteem and develop their leadership qualities. In these tumultuous times, America needs such efforts more than ever.

Volunteer Opportunities & Events to Support Local Nonprofit Groups

Tell 'em you heard about it through CanDo!

Highlights from CanDo's Community Calendar

Ongoing - Napa County Libraries Events Calendar - filter by location

Ongoing - Napa BookMine Calendar of literary events

Ongoing - Arts Council Napa Valley events & Creative Directory

Until April 15, Tues/Wed - Free tax preparation by AARP Tax-Aide - Napa Library 

​​

April 3 - Napa Humane Dog-Friendly Community Mixer at Materra Cunat Family Vineyards - Napa Humane Community Mixer at Materra Cunat Family Vineyards. Thursday, April 3, 4 to 6 p.m. 

April 6 - Napa Valley Walk for Water 2025, 3.75 mile walk at Vintage High School - starts at 11:00am

April 6 - 13 - Friends of the Napa Library Spring Book Sale - hours vary

April 5 - Backyard & Worm Composting - Napa Senior Activity Center

April 12 - Napa Earth Day Community Cleanup and Celebration - 9:00 - Oxbow Commons. Earth Day Celebration: 11:00 - 4:00. CanDo will be there!

April 12 - Tomato Sale - UC Master Gardeners of Napa County - 9:00 - 12:00

April 12 - Viva Mariachi! Napa Valley College - 2 performances, 2:00, 7:00

April 13 - Holi at the Garden - Tannery Bend Beerworks - 1:00 - 4:00

Give!Guide

CanDo Garden

Napa Valley Food Project

Food Rescue

Gleaning Project

Pro-Inclusion Napa

Stow It-Don't Throw It

Neighborhood Reads

New to CanDo? Want to receive this nifty eNewsletter? It comes out bright and early the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, full of ways you can volunteer and connect with community.