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What is River City Food Bank?
Why is River City Food Bank needed, if there are other food banks?
The local and national news have reported that many food banks are having a difficult time. What’s the problem?
What is River City Food Bank doing about the increase in requests for help and jump in costs?
Does Sacramento really have a hunger problem?
Does hunger primarily affect homeless people in the downtown area?
Does food assistance encourage dependence?
Why should someone give to hunger causes locally, if people are starving in other parts of the world?
What does RCFB provide to people who are looking for food assistance?
Who is eligible to receive food assistance from RCFB?
How can volunteers get involved?
How can an organization sponsor a food drive?
How can people donate to River City Food Bank?
Where does the money come from to operate River City Food Bank?
How much of each donated dollar goes to overhead?
I want my money to go to direct services. Why should some support overhead?
Does River City Food Bank coordinate its activities with other charitable organizations?
Is River City Food Bank affiliated with a church?
Why isn’t River City Food Bank better known?
What is River City Food Bank?
A community-based 501 (c)(3) that serves anyone experiencing hunger, from anywhere in Sacramento County. RCFB offers a nutritionally-balanced three-day emergency food supply up to once a month to those who are eligible, as well as shelter assistance. River City Food Bank is the only Sacramento-area food bank that is open every weekday to anyone who lives in Sacramento County.
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Why is River City Food Bank needed, if there are other food banks?
River City Food Bank is different in two important ways. First, we are the only food closet that operates every weekday to provide nutritionally balanced food to people who live anywhere in Sacramento county. Most food closets serve a very limited geographic area defined by zip codes. Several food closets, for example, serve the downtown area, but recent data collected by the prominent Brookings Institution shows that there are as many poor people now living in suburbs as there are in inner cities (even though the percentage is higher in central cities). As another point of difference, we put a lot of effort into trying to provide a three day supply of nutritionally balanced food. It’s easy to send someone away with bags full of carbohydrates, but we are trying to provide food that is healthy and more nutritious -- food that is fuel for children who are growing and in school, and fuel for hard-working adults! We often provide recipes, too, in case someone hasn’t used a particular ingredient that we supplied.
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The local and national news have reported that many food banks are having a difficult time. What’s the problem?
Food closets around the country – including River City Food Bank – are being hammered by increasing demand for emergency food assistance. Nearly 50% more people are coming to RCFB for help than two years ago. RCFB served 36,305 people in 2008 compared to 24,074 people in 2006.
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What is River City Food Bank doing about the increase in requests for help and jump in costs?
We’re doing all we can to communicate the need. For example, KCRA channel 3 aired a powerful story on September 30, 2008, showing the long lines of hungry people and our empty shelves. We’re also applying for grant funding, and we were thrilled to receive a sustainability grant from Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, in the amount of $50,000.
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Does Sacramento really have a hunger problem?
Yes! Unfortunately, the last formal study of hunger in our area is now woefully out of date. But here’s what we know so far from the experience of RCFB. The lines outside our door grow longer. We provided healthy emergency three-day food supplies to 36,305 people in 2008 compared to 24,074 in 2006. More people are seeking food for children. Two years ago, 30 percent of those who came to us gathered food for children, and now, 40 percent do. More people who are seeking help who have some income, but can no longer make ends meet.
We expect that we will see more people who have lost their jobs. Unemployment is already at a 12-year high, and still rising. Many will be trying to find ways to get food until they can file for, or receive unemployment benefits.
We also know that seniors, in particular, are hurting. Even if we don’t know exactly how many seniors, adults and children are hungry in Sacramento, we know that our mission has never been more important.
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Does hunger primarily affect homeless people in the downtown area?
Hunger is often associated with homelessness, but the reality is that people who experience hunger are young and old, suburban and urban, working and non-working. One in six children in America live at the poverty line – which the federal government defines as a having income below $21,200 for a family of four. In the last six months, 40 percent of the meals distributed by River City Food Bank has been for children. Seniors on fixed incomes also can run short on food. One of our clients, Mr. Simon*, is 92 and receives $720 of Social Security Income monthly, and lives in a rented room off I Street. With a little food support, RCFB helps him to remain in his own home and maintain his independence. The Brookings Institution reported last year that the number of those living in poverty in the suburbs now outnumber those living in cities. Hunger-relief charities have found that the greatest increase in hunger has been among the “working poor”. Despite their own hard work, they cannot always make ends meet .
(*not his real name)
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Does food assistance encourage dependence?
The assistance given by River City Food Bank is intended to foster independence, by helping someone get through a rough time. Many of the people who seek our help have been keeping their heads above water until something unexpected happened. Car expenses. Medical bills. Higher gas prices. Reduced hours at work. Three-day emergency food supplies from River City Food Bank can help people get by, so that they can remain independent. A little help, and a little compassion, can make a big difference.
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Why should someone give to hunger causes locally, if people are starving in other parts of the world?
We believe that it’s important to help hungry people anywhere. Many of our volunteers give to world hunger organizations in addition to helping close to home. They know that when someone here is living on the edge, and encounters an unexpected expense, a small amount of help – such as a three-day emergency food supply – can help them to remain independent.
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What does RCFB provide to people who are looking for food assistance?
A family or individual who reports income at or below the poverty line can receive a three-day supply of nutritionally-balanced food up to once a month from our location at 1322 27th Street, between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. each weekday. Families with small children also receive non-food items such as diapers, baby food and formula.
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Who is eligible to receive food assistance from RCFB?
Anyone who lives in Sacramento County and reports that they or their dependents are living at or below the federal poverty line. Adults are asked to show photo identification and medical IDs or birth certificates for all dependents.
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How can volunteers get involved?
RCFB is almost entirely operated by volunteers, with the help of just two paid part-time professionals. RCFB volunteers contribute 11,000 hours to stock food, prepare three-day food supplies, help with client intake and computer data-entry, and support administrative activities and education. Click here for many ways to volunteer.
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How can an organization sponsor a food drive?
We’ll work with you according to what works best for your organization. Contact us to discuss how your organization can help.
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How can people donate to River City Food Bank?
Consider joining our Circle of Friends by making a recurring secure online donation of $25 a month, but any gift, in any amount, is welcomed and needed! You can make a secure donation online, over the phone, by fax or by mail. You also can give gifts in-kind, or stocks, equities or other assets.
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Where does the money come from to operate River City Food Bank?
About half of RCFB’s expenses are covered by in-kind donations, including our office space which is provided by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California . After that, donations and fundraisers provide most of our funding. RCFB is supported by financial donations from individuals, businesses, and 14 faith communities representing three denominations. We also receive several small grants – one from FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Fund, and another from Sacramento’s Ann Land/Bertha Henschel Memorial Fund – that are designated for food and emergency shelter needs. In 2009 we received a generous sustainability grant from Sutter Medical Center to assist us with the rapid increase in demand during 2009. FEMA has funded RCFB each year since 1997. RCFB also has received donated food from Foodlink and Senior Gleaners.
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How much of each donated dollar goes to overhead?
Only 13% goes to overhead, according to the methodology used by United Way, putting River City Food Bank well below the 25% ceiling recommended by United Way and the federal government.
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I want my money to go to direct services. Why should some support overhead?
Some money must go to operations, so that we have a way of getting donated food and money to the people who need it. With only two paid part-time staff, River City Food Bank has a tiny administrative structure, but these staff are vital to ensure the integrity and professionalism of RCFB’s operations.
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Does River City Food Bank coordinate its activities with other charitable organizations?
Yes. River City Food Bank believes in collaborating as a way of avoiding duplication of effort. Currently, RCFB works with Francis House, whose counselors screen and refer clients for our motel voucher program. RCFB also provides monthly “Food for Fun” nutritional classes using common food closet staples in collaboration with CARES. Rental assistance is coordinated with Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA), Traveler’s Aid and the Salvation Army.
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Is River City Food Bank affiliated with a church?
RCFB is not operated by a church organization, although it receives generous support from many. The organization was started by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the downtown area, and then was headquartered at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Until 1997, it was affiliated with Episcopal Community Services. For more than 10 years, RCFB has been an independent 501 (c)(3) organization.
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Why isn’t River City Food Bank better known?
We are a small organization that has been tightly focused on providing emergency food and shelter services. With such a lean administrative structure, our time and energy has gone into providing direct services. Of course, we’d love for more people to know about RCFB as a way of serving those in need in our community!
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