“Our daughter is a nurse and to help her during the pandemic, we’ve been taking care of her children. We haven’t had to take care of kids in years. Before their arrival, we were barely getting by with just the two of us. Now with the little ones, things are tight. I honestly don’t know what I would have done if my neighbor hadn’t told me about the Redwood Empire Food Bank. She often came by with fresh veggies and other foods. When I finally asked her where she was getting all the food, she told me about the food bank. I almost cried the first time we visited a distribution site. We were given so much food, plus breakfast and lunch for a week for the kids. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The food bank is a godsend. I hope one day we can repay you in some way. We are super lucky to have you in the community.”

—Grandparents of participants at a distribution site in Santa Rosa, CA

“We want to thank you for always thinking about the kids during the summer. We got let go from work during this time as we are seasonal workers. You don’t know how much I would feel like I failed my children if you were not here. We especially appreciate how we can pick up the week’s worth of food on one day. Gas is a luxury to us and we don’t have enough to come every day. You were all sent from God for the community, thank you all so much. God bless.”

—Parent at a summer feeding site in Santa Rosa, CA

“Do you know what it’s like to think about food all the time? Now imagine my babies. They shouldn’t have to feel that pain in their tummy because their mom doesn’t have a job. There is no reason for any child to suffer from hunger. You and your team are helping stop that. If I could hug you I would. You and your team are amazing. Thank you, you are helping out more than you know.”

—Parent at a school site in Santa Rosa, CA

“You know, I was really embarrassed to have to come with my mom to pick up food here. I thought it was only something really poor people do. But I saw so many of my friends the first day we came. I realized it wasn’t just my family going through stuff. Everyone could be going through something and we don’t even realize it. Now when I come, I’m grateful we have this available to us. So thank you for keeping me with food in the fridge every week. You’re cool.”

—Teen at a school site in Petaluma, CA

“I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I’m a prideful person, so this is really difficult for me. I live in my car with my 6 kids and they don’t deserve to be hungry because I’m scared of what people will think of me. But the reason why I called you over is because you and the rest of the staff make me feel so welcome. You always talk to us in such a happy tone and almost make me feel like this is something super normal. Because of the food bank, my kids are eating. And because of that, we owe you our lives. Thank you.”

—Parent of 6 whose family is living in their car (through tears) in Santa Rosa, CA

“You know when you go to the store and you ask your mom if you can have the cereal you really want and she says yes? That’s how it feels when I get food from here! I get all this stuff to eat when I’m hungry, it’s like a happy meal, but gooder.”

—5-year-old who was asked about the lunches he received in Sonoma, CA

“As discomforting as it was, we turned to the Redwood Empire Food Bank for help. These aren’t normal times, and we know this won’t last forever. For now, the food bank has been a godsend. The food we receive from the Redwood Empire Food Bank is top quality, nutritious and our kids love it. Fresh celery and broccoli, chicken and pork, peanut butter and pasta! We knew we wouldn’t be able to afford the usual holiday meal we’ve made for our family in the past, but now, seeing all the nutritious items the Redwood Empire Food Bank provides—we know we can give our three children something that resembles our past holiday meals! It’s given us hope.”

—Family at a distribution site in Santa Rosa, CA

“I got word that the Redwood Empire Food Bank will be holding a distribution in Jenner twice a month. On the first food give-away, when I got home with the packages it felt like Christmas... The first box I opened had a jar of peanut butter on top. What a gift! Something that is such a simple staple became the essence of my joy. Feeling cared for, feeling not alone, feeling that folks understood the challenges... What a sigh of relief, and what a great peanut butter sandwich. I have always taken pride in being self-sufficient and not asking for help, but these have proven to be unprecedented times. The regularly scheduled food support gave me hope and literally strength
but also came with the sense of community support that I was not alone. The scheduled distribution of staples helped me to stay at home for over 10 weeks! The longest time I have ever hunkered down, out here on the edge of the planet, as it feels sometimes.”

—Recipient at a distribution site in Jenner, CA