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Food Bank of Yolo County

Overview

The Food Bank of Yolo County serves 45 nonprofit agencies, 23 school programs, and 23 USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program sites as "the Official County Food Bank." All donations and purchased foods are available to nonprofit agencies that serve the needy, elderly, mentally ill, or disadvantages in Yolo County. The warehouse accepts any size donation including food, personal hygiene, or other items useful to group homes and emergency assistance programs. Local businesses, farmers, UC Davis Food Recover Program, and individuals donate food regularly. Monetary donations are stretched to provide nearly six pounds of food for every dollar received. Food Barrel drives are sponsored throughout the community as well as fundraisers.

History

Established as a backyard gleaning operation in Davis in 1971 as the Yolo County Coalition Against Hunger, the warehouse space has grown to 15,000 square feet. Obtaining a refrigerated truck last fall has enabled the operation to immediately distribute perishable foods from the UC Davis dining rooms to agencies. Plans are underway to create a cleaning and sorting area to process fresh produce following America's Second Harvest's guidelines.

Operations

The warehouse manager coordinates the pick-up and distribution of restaurant-quality prepared foods from Sodexho Marriot, UCD Dining Services. The food is prepared and sealed at the cafeterias. The Food Bank staff then delivers the food to agencies for immediate consumption or the food is placed in the refrigerated truck, driven to the warehouse, catalogued, and stored in the freezer for future distribution. Fresh produce arrives daily during the harvest season. Fresh bread and produce from the local grocery outlets and farmer's markets are picked up daily by volunteers and delivered to the warehouse. Food Drives are coordinated monthly. Volunteers sort, categorize, and repackage items to form variety boxes for distribution.

Materials Collected

The Food Bank accepts any size donation including personal hygiene products and daily necessity items that can be used in emergency-type situations, group homes, or shelters. Any type of food product, perishable or nonperishable, as well as USDA Commodities, are warehoused at the physical location of the Food Bank.

Source of Materials

Local grocery outlets, distribution centers, farmers, farmer's markets, UC Davis cafeterias, and businesses donate food and produce five days a week.

Collection Service

Coordinated by the warehouse manager, pick-ups are made using the Food Bank refrigerated van and non-refrigerated van on specific weekdays. Volunteers pick bread up daily. Food Barrels are distributed and picked up by staff. The Resource Developer makes contact regularly with local food distributors to secure any available goods at no charge. He also works with local grocery outlets to secure supplemental foods at no charge or a favorable discount.

Geographic Service Area

The Food Bank distributes food to agencies, school programs, and Emergency Food Distribution Sites throughout Yolo County.

Drop-Off Hours

Food is delivered to the warehouse Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Days/Hours of Operation

The offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Warehouse hours for distribution are Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Contact Information

José Martinez, Executive Director
Jim Bernardy, Program Manager, Emergency Food Assistance
Bill French, Food Resource Developer
1244 Fortna Avenue
Woodland, California 95776

County: Yolo
Phone: (530) 668-0690
Fax: (530) 668-8530
E-mail: josem@foodbankyc.org
Web site: www.gotouring.com/davis/clubs/yolofood.html

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Last updated: November 01, 2007