News
MAY 2012
NEW MURAL FOR THE FOOD BANK
Benjamin Abell of Bones Graphics donated his time and considerable talent to create a wonderful new mural for the client waiting room at the Food Bank. Paint donated by Racine's and plywood by Rossi's.
SHEER GENIUS!
We've been concerned about what the upcoming ban on plastic bags will do to our supply of recycled grocery bags. Well, now we have a solution. We were delighted when Jill Lydick walked in the door with a stack of shopping bags she made out of old T-shirts. Not only are they sturdy and useful, but they're downright fun! Now your favorite T-shirts from road trips and rock concerts of yore can live again! We can't wait to start handing these out to clients. If you have old T-shirts you'd like to donate to the cause, bring 'em on down to the Food Bank and we'll pass 'em on to Jill to be turned in to bags.
MILK FOR TOTS
We are most fortunate to have received a grant for $8,200 from First5 Mendocino to buy milk for families of young children.
APRIL 2012
THE FOOD BANK WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER, AMANDA DURIGAN!
MARCH 2012
JAMES BARKER, A MEMBER OF THE FOOD BANK FAMILY
We are deeply saddened by the passing of James Barker, a valuable Food Bank volunteer. James faithfully tended the vegetables and fruits on our produce rack.
FEBRUARY 2012
FOOD BANK HOSTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER
Warehouse Mangager, Jim DiMauro, answers questions from Chamber members about our food supplies.
DECEMBER 2011
WELLS FARGO DONATES $4,000 TOWARD A NEW TRUCK
Wells Fargo Bank made a generous donation to be used toward the purchase of a much needed new delivery truck for the Food Bank in 2012. Alta Moore of Wells Fargo presents a check to Dan Fowler, Food Bank Board President. Also present from the Food Bank are (left to right) board members: Thom Adams, Ginnie Claus and Glendie Johnson; and Executive Director, Nancy Severy.
NEW GENERATOR THROUGH CDBG GRANT INSTALLED!
And ain't she a beaut !
SAVINGS BANK EMPLOYEES HELP THE FOOD BANK
Employees of the Savings Bank of Mendocino County held a Holiday Bake-Off with the proceeds (matched by the bank, itself) going to the Fort Bragg Food Bank. Pictured are Ericha Heinsohn-Sevy, Mendocino Branch Manager; Nancy Severy Executive Director- Fort Bragg Food Bank; Ginnie Claus, Fort Bragg Branch Manager, and Jennifer Clark, Bake-off winner - Fort Bragg Branch employee. Thank You Savings Bank!
NOVEMBER 2011
736 LOCAL FAMILIES RECEIVE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY WITH FIXIN'S
With the help of our generous community we distributed 736 turkeys plus the fixin's for a complete holiday meal to 736 Food Bank client families. Smiles and good cheer abounded on our holiday distribution days. Now.... we're getting ready for the Christmas holiday!
Fort Bragg High School Key Club members bag tangerines for the Food Bank Thanksgiving Distribtution
NEW WALK-IN FREEZER INSTALLED
This new freezer has 85% more capacity than our old, less efficient freezer. With this extra space we'll be able to secure larger quantities of frozen meat and other foods for our clients. The freezer was purchased with a CDBG grant which we received through the help of the City of Fort Bragg. North Coast Refrigeration did a great job on the installation.
NEW PRODUCE SORTING AREA SHELTER IS COMPLETE
With a matching grant from the USDA Rural Development agency we just completed a shelter over our outside produce sorting area. This will protect our volunteers from the elements as they sort through donated salvage produce. The excellent work was done by Rosenthal Construction.
JULY 2011
We welcome aboard 3 new employees !
Jim DiMauro, Warehouse Manager!! (left)
Doug Duncan, Driver/Warehouseman!! (center)
Holly Hawkins, Assistant Volunteer/Client Coordinator!! (right)
Welcome to our new board member!
Kristen Carr
Kristen's expertise is in fundraising events.
Good Bye and Best Wishes to Lance Nelson
It is with great sadness that we say good bye to Lance Nelson, our Warehouse Supervisor extraordinaire of the past five years. Lance and his daughter, Mary, are moving to Washington State to be closer to family. We wish Lance well and hope he keeps in touch.
MAY 2011
FOOD BANK RECEIVES DONATED FORKLIFT
Food Bank staff were thrilled to receive a forklift donated by Food Bank benefactor, Betty Stechmeyer. The driver who delivered the used, in excellent condition, American-made Hyster forklift commented he had never before seen any group so excited to receive a forklift. Pictured above, Betty (in purple, front, center) is surrounded by the happy Food Bank crew, including board member, Thom Adams (center-right).
US POSTAL LETTER CARRIERS STAMP OUT HUNGER
This year's Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, by the National Association of Letter Carriers, was a big success. Your very own local mail carriers picked up over 2,000 pounds of food left by by generous Fort Bragg residents next to their mailboxes on Saturday. After unloading a truck full of much-needed food, we realize the amount of extra effort made by our mail carriers to help their friends and neighbors in need!
APRIL 2011
JEAN JONES, the Heart and Soul of the Food Bank for many years, passed away early Easter morning. Jean who retired in 2009, touched the hearts of many during her years at the Food Bank. Her passing will be mourned by clients, volunteers and staff alike. We love you Jean!
WE RECEIVE GLEANED ORANGES FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY
Frank Langley of the Chico Gleaners has been bringing us surplus bread and gleaned produce from the central valley. Frank and his wife Peggy have taken it upon themselves to be sure that this valuable food does not go to waste.
MARCH 2011
FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
We are fortunate and most grateful to have received an award of $7,500 from the California Endowment.
BELOVED VOLUNTEER MARIE RUSERT PASSES
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our "Egg Lady", Marie Rusert. Marie, whose preferred task was washing and repackaging donated eggs, volunteered up until age 94. She will be dearly missed.
FEBRUARY 2011
SECOND ANNUAL ICE BOWL CHARITY DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITS FOOD BANK
The Mendocino Coast Frolf Club held its Second Annual Cary Letsinger Memorial "Ice Bowl" Charity Disc Golf Tournament on Feb. 12th at the Fort Bragg College of the Redwoods. Friend and fellow disc golfer, Cary Letsinger passed away five days before the event last year. He was the main fundraiser and the event could not have been as successful without his work. Derrick Robbings, of the Frolf Club said ”We all knew that Cary would have wanted the event to go on.” This year thirty seven people showed up to play, and A.J Buhl, Derrick Robbings, and the whole Mendocino Coast Frolf Club stepped up to raise $1,434, and 800 pounds of food, all of which was donated to the Fort Bragg Food Bank.
The Mendocino Coast Frolf club hopes to host the Cary Letsinger Memorial Fort Bragg Ice Bowl Charity Disc Golf Tournament every year. They would like to thank all of the generous sponsors who made this a wonderful event possible again this year. (Last year’s Ice Bowl on can be viewed on youtube under “Fort Bragg Icebowl”. This video was made by MCTV.)
FOOD BANK TRUCK GETS STUCK IN THE SNOW
On our monthly delivery run to Leggett, Laytonville and Covelo food banks, the unexpected happened. Our truck and driver, Joe, were briefly detained by snow on Highway 1 between Rockport and Leggett! Joe made it to Leggett and Laytonville that day, but decided Covelo was too much of a gamble.
