Posts Tagged ‘Marin Food Bank’
It is that time of year again when the Marin Food Bank does its annual food drive. Sadly, Marin food pantries have seen increases as high as 70% in the number of people who need food over the same month last year. Recent surveys show more than 16% of Marin’s children live in poverty and more than 35% of households live below the basic self-sufficiency income for a family of three- one parent and two children ($68,880). This means it would take four full-time minimum wage jobs to reach self-sufficiency.
Over the last year, the Marin Food Bank has distributed over 1.5 million meals. Food collected in the annual drive will be distributed in Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas boxes and next year to low-income seniors on the Brown BagProgram, severely ill individuals served by the Compassion in Action Program and the following Emergency Food Pantries:
- Canal Community Alliance
- San Geronimo Valley Community Center
- The Salvation Army
- Southern Marin Food Pantry
- Novato Human Needs Center
- West Marin Community Resource Center
What they need:
- Canned Proteins (tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter)
- Canned Fruits in Own Juices or Light Syrup (fruit cocktail)
- Macaroni & Cheese
- 100% Fruit Juices (All sizes including juice boxes)
- Grains (pasta, whole wheat pasta, rice, brown rice, macaroni and cheese)
- Condiments (tomato based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, light salad dressings)
- Low Sodium/ No Salt Added Canned Vegetables (mixed, green beans, corn)
- Soups (beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey rice)
- Multigrain Cereal (cheerios, cornflakes, grapenuts, raisin bran)
- Ensure and other nutritional drinks
- Alternative Food: wheat-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan
Where to drop food donations off?
- Alain Pinel 101 Nellen Avenue, Corte Madera
- Bon Air Center in Greenbrae- CDS Pharmacy, Molly Stones, Peet’s Coffee, The Ranch of Bon Air, and all banking institutions located at the center.
- The Great Turkey at Corte Madera Town Center
- Most Marin Safeway locations
It is hard to imagine that families in Marin are going hungry, but they are. We have begun hearing that the Marin Food Bank now has more than double the number of families needing their support this year. I have been told that in June of this year, the Marin Food Bank was providing food for approximately 1,200 people – three meals a day. By October, that number had risen to nearly 3,000 people. In response, Pacific Union’s Greenbrae office has kicked off a Peanut Butter and Jelly drive. When I first heard about it, I can honestly say I was a little skeptical. PB&J? How will that help the hungry?
Over the last week, I have heard stories from a few of my coworkers who, as kids, went to school hungry and had to use the services of a food bank or a “soup kitchen”. They have said that even if all they had had was a P&J sandwich to split between breakfast and lunch, going to school would have been so much easier than going to school so hungry. The food provided at places like Marin Food Bank literally changes peoples lives.
Favorite foods of the children are macaroni and cheese, green beans, peanut butter, jelly, canned chili – - easy-to-prepare, nutritious foods that the little ones will eat. The food bank is also in need of paper bags with handles and egg cartons. The paper bags are used to distribute food. Egg donations come in bulk. The egg cartons provide a safe and easy way to distribute the eggs.
My office attempting to get as much PB&J to the Marin Food Bank as possible. This year is a challenging year for many of us, but most of us don’t ever have to worry about having actual food on the table. For about six dollars, a large jar of peanut butter and a large jar of grape jelly can be purchased at Costco (we will be buying in bulk). If you have a few dollars to spare, please make a contribution to our drive. You can drop off PB&J, a check or other canned goods (non-perishable) at the Greenbrae office at 189 Sir Francis Drake in Greenbrae or contact me and I can arrange pick up. Don’t forget to drop off your paper bags with handles as well!
Additionally, you can also donate food directly by dropping canned goods at the Big Turkey display at the Town Center Mall in Corte Madera, or at food donation boxes in West America Banks and Safeway stores. Cash contributions can also be made online with the Marin Food Bank.
Every little contribution, even six dollars, makes a significant difference to people living in our community.