1) If you could share one little-known-fact about hunger in Marin County, what would that be?
Hunger exists in every nook and cranny of our community. It’s a health crisis that nobody is really talking about. Just because the economy is booming, not everyone is doing okay; after paying for the high costs of housing, thousands of our neighbors are having a hard time putting together three square meals a day. It’s children, seniors, and people with disabilities who are most at risk, but many of our participants are low-wage, working families with multiple jobs who are still not earning enough to make ends meet.
2) Speaking of which, you just opened a food pantry in Tiburon, which is one of the wealthiest areas in the already affluent Bay Area. Why Tiburon?
Our pantry at the Hilarita Apartments in Tiburon started when a few residents saw a need in their community and took action. They reached out to us, while also advocating with the complex’s property manager. This pantry now serves about three dozen families, with the help of those same resident advocates who volunteer every week. Food assistance helps these families stretch their dollars, so they don’t have to choose between buying food, buying medicine or paying bills.
3) One would assume that the approaching holiday season — with Thanksgiving this month — is the busiest time of the year for your organization. What does this time of the year mean to you?
The week before Thanksgiving, the SF-Marin Food Bank will provide more than 30,000 families in the Bay Area with ingredients to make a special meal with their loved ones: whole chickens, yams, mashed potatoes, cranberries and gravy, plus lots of fresh produce. Distributing this special holiday menu to so many families is truly a team effort that takes thousands of people. Personally, it’s a time for me to reflect on the work that we’re doing at the food bank, recommit myself to our mission and inspire my staff.
4) Your organization recently expanded operations in Marin with a larger warehouse in San Rafael. How do you anticipate the new space will impact the food bank’s ability to better serve Marin’s residents?
This new property is a game-changer for our organization. About three times larger than our old warehouse, it will allow us to increase food distribution, add more services and engage with more Marin residents who wish to volunteer their time.
5) How does the food bank manage to secure so much fresh produce to hand out to those in need?
In 2000, we started our Farm to Family program, which fosters relationships directly with farmers and packers. As a result, 60 percent of the food we distribute is fresh produce, which is essential for our participants’ health. Today, Farm to Family serves a statewide network of 43 food banks, nourishing 600,000 Californians every week.
6) Is it really possible to end hunger in Marin, and if so, what do we need to do as a community to make that happen?
We believe hunger is a solvable problem. The key is for us to get action from everyone who has the time and energy to give it. Donating and/or volunteering with the food bank are great ways to start. We especially need people to lend their voices to our advocacy efforts, which aim to solve food insecurity on a systemic level. Our advocacy team conducts research and advances legislation that increases access to food assistance, which is key to ending hunger at a local level.
7) Many people that live in Marin tend to like to support global causes, so how do you make the case for Marinites to give back closer to home?
I know that people can understand how fundamental food is to a person’s well-being. That’s not just true for individuals, but for our community as a whole. When everyone in our local community has enough to eat, our community is a better place for all. We urge Marinites to help provide food to neighbors right here at home – it really makes a difference and can get a struggling family or individual started on the path to success. Food makes it possible for kids to learn more at school. Food helps low-wage neighbors to focus at work and face life’s challenges. Food helps seniors stay healthy and active. With the community behind them, our neighbors can get the nutritious food they need to thrive.
To learn more about the SF-Marin Food Bank and get involved, visit sfmfoodbank.org.
Give Back:
- For more than 60 years, Guide Dogs for the Blind has trained exceptional dogs to assist vision impaired individuals, with all services offered free of charge. It relies solely on private and corporate donations for support as it receives no government funding. guidedogs.com
- The PNOC Foundation supports a network of specialists qualified to treat pediatric brain tumors at 18 leading hospitals across the country. Donate directly or start a fundraising campaign of your own. pnocfoundation.org
- Gilead House, providing housing and stability to Marin-based homeless single mothers and their children, has an ongoing need for financial support as well as in-kind donations including gift cards, cleaning products and office supplies. gileadhouse.org
- NAMI Marin offers educational classes, support groups, informational meetings and a help line to support families navigating mental health resources. namimarin.org
- Founded by Marin resident Julie Castro Abrams, How Women Lead promotes female leadership and a deeper involvement by women on Bay Area-based boards. howwomenlead.com
Get Involved:
- Raising the Bar, a grassroots program started in Marin to promote a no-alcohol-or-substances policy at youth-focused events, is recruiting parents, organizations and communities across the county to join its movement and model healthy choices. raisingthebarmarin.org
- The SMART Program’s vision to end the cycle of poverty by providing students and families financial, academic, social and emotional support begins with volunteers who tutor and mentor young students, paving the way for them to higher learning. thesmartprogram.org
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, with chapters in all 50 states including the Bay Area, holds a series of community and campus walks each year to benefit the organization. afsp.org
- Based in Napa Valley, Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch is always in need of volunteers, supplies and foster care families to help care for its domestic and farm rescue animals. jamesonanimalrescueranch.org