It seems the inner workings of the food bank are as service oriented as it's outward projection, each and every person I have come into contact with are so happy and genuinely concerned with anything we do! There is no job too small to be recognized, the last day I was washing bowls and at least three employees came up and thanked me for what I was doing and asked either what the bowls were for or if I actually knew what they were for so everyone could be in the know about what the food bank does. Every step of the way the warehouse supervisors explain to the volunteers exactly where the food they are bagging comes from and where it is going. I discovered the bowls I was washing were actually for a fundraiser where children would come and paint them and then they would be auctioned off at an upcoming event!
This is the event I was washing bowls for:
Join us on Thursday, June 2 at 6 p.m. for an evening of nourishment as we help fill empty bowls in our community. Enjoy a simple and delicious meal of soup and bread, receive a hand-painted bowl to take home, and bid in the silent auction. This year’s event is hosted by CBS 5 weekend anchor and reporter Ann Notarangelo.
https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=5968&code=EmptyBowls
Some information about the Alameda Country Community Food Bank:
The mission statement of the Food Bank: To alleviate hunger by providing nutritious food and nutrition education to people in need, educating the public, and promoting public policies that address hunger and its root causes.
The food bank provides over 300,000 meals weekly and they work with 275 member agencies throughout the county. This is why the volunteers are so needed and appreciated at the main facility because 300,000 meals takes a lot of hands to bag up and sort through! Their associations include Feeding America, California Associations of Food Banks and the CA Hunger Action Coalition. The food bank started in 1985 and recently moved to the new center by the Oakland airport I am currently volunteering at! The culture of the environment at the food banks seems to be that no job is too big or too small to complete in order to fight the hunger battle in Alameda County. Local food producers seem to be an integral part of this organization, much of the fresh produce and perishable items donate come from local businesses, in fact I bagged up a TON of bread last week from a local bread bakery in Oakland! The food bank's mantra is Donate.Advocate.Volunteer.
This is some information of the Food Bank's 2010 Financials:
Annual Support and Revenue
Federal Emergency Management : $191,274
Agency State of California : 422,793
County of Alameda : 1,773,828
Cities of Oakland, Hayward and other : 51,000
Foundation and corporate giving : 2,752,209
Individual contributions : 4,076,461
Special events contributions : 211,197
Food handling charges : 181,282
Food purchase revenue : 203,497
Interest and other : 366,960
Donated commodities : 25,695,624
Total Support and Revenue:
$35,886,125
Annual Operating Expenses Program Services
Food distribution $31,199,839
Nutrition education,hunger education, community outreach,volunteer training 2,229,364
Supporting Services
Resource development/fundraising $883,197
Management and general 370,043
Total Expenses $34,682,443
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