SANTA ROSA, April 29 – About 20,000 packages of California almonds arrived at the Redwood Empire Food Bank this week, a gift of a non-profit organized by old Central Valley high school friends to provide relief to food banks and victims of disaster.

The almonds will be distributed to school children who receive regular nutritional support through the Food Bank’s Backpack for Kids program.

The almonds also will be used to supplement various staples distributed by the Food Bank throughout the county.

The organization, Give Back 2 God, was founded by a group of friends who grew up in the Central Valley and attended Manteca High School, according to Robert Mees, executive director of the non profit based in San Dimas in Los Angeles County.

Mees said the organization includes growers, Mike Kooyman, owner of Madi K’s food processing and distribution firm, and Scott Brooks, head coach of the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder professional basketball team.

“They are all successful and blessed and they wanted to give back,” he said.

The organization distributes about 2 million servings of almonds each month to food bank and disaster relief and wants to make the high protein food a regular part of the diets of people in need.

Backpacks for Kids provides weekly food packages to children of very low-income families and who have been identified by school officials of being at risk of going hungry over the weekend. The packages are distributed each Friday afternoon through the school year. More than 300 young school children are enrolled in the program.

David Goodman, executive director of the REFB, said the non-profit is providing valuable support for low-income children.

“We look forward to this generous contribution becoming a regular feature of our Backpack program,” he said.

Backpack for Kids is just one of many food distribution programs operated and supported by the REFB, the largest food bank on the Northern California coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Working with 146 partner agencies, the REFB provides food to 70,000 people a month in Sonoma County alone. It also is the primary source for food for pantries in Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties. 

For more information on the REFB and its programs, contact Goodman 707-523-7900.