SANTA ROSA, May 6 – The Redwood Empire Food Bank has launched its annual three-month drive to keep its food relief shelves stocked to serve people in need through the summer.

“Summertime is a busy time for food bankers because hunger doesn’t take a vacation during this nicest time of the year,” said David Goodman, executive director of the REFB. “Working families still struggle to make ends meet. Many workers are unemployed due to the recession. And seniors and other low-income residents face high costs of living on limited fixed incomes.”  

“And we need to remember that kids are home from school and don’t routinely receive school lunches,” Goodman said. “About 26,000 Sonoma County children rely on free or reduced priced school lunches during the year and we need to make sure there’s food at home for them during summer vacation.”

 “So we are asking again for people to donate food or cash to help us keep our shelves stocked with canned and packaged food and our vegetable bins full of nutritious and fresh produce,” he said.

The Food Bank Summer Hunger Drive 2010 officially began Saturday, May 1. It will continue through the end of July.

This year’s goal is 50,000 lbs. of food and $15,000 in cash.

No amount of food or cash is too small.

Cash donations are especially helpful at the REFB where every $1 contribution produces $4 worth of food that is available for distribution to people in need.

Families, neighborhoods, faith-based agencies, businesses and other groups are encouraged to host food drives through the three-month effort.

Food donations can be made in orange collection barrels the REFB is placing throughout the county at G&G Markets, Santa Rosa Grocery Outlet, Safeway, CVS/pharmacy and Whole Foods.

Barrels also can be found at many businesses and organizations including Sonoma County Family YMCA, Walgreen’s in Cotati, Parkpoint Health Club in Healdsburg, WorldMark Windsor, Hansel Toyota and the Redwood Club in Petaluma, and other sites.

Food may also be donated at the REFB headquarters, 3320 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa.
For people wanting to make cash donations, there are several options:

• Online at www.refb.org.
• Send a check to Redwood Empire Food Bank, 3320 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.
• Or call 707-523-7900 to put a donation on a Visa, MasterCard or AMEX.

The REFB is the largest food bank serving the North Coast of California from Marin County to Oregon. The REFB provides food assistance to 70,000 children, families and seniors every month.

The REFB also is the primary resource for food pantries and other hunger relief agencies in Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

For information on hosting a Food and Funds Drive, barrel locations or to find out how you can help, call Billy Bartz, Food Drive and Events Coordinator, 707-523-7900 Ext. 27 or email wbartz@refb.org.

For more information on the Redwood Empire Food Bank, call David Goodman, 707-523-7900.