Thanks makes it all worthwhile
Unless we are directly involved, few of us realize the benefits given a community by food pantries throughout our area. We know they exist and at certain times of the year give monetary or food donations, but do we know what happens behind the scenes?
My experience with food pantries, until recently, was to volunteer occasionally and donate. Then I became involved with one at the Methodist Church in Galt — and the learning began.
Last Thursday my assignment was distributing produce — potatoes, celery, cabbage and beets — lots of it. My station was next to the enrollment table, so I met the people arriving. They ranged from young mothers to senior citizens. What I most enjoyed were the “thank yous” given me by most of the recipients. They truly appreciated our efforts.
This food pantry is coordinated by Faye Gaines who oversees it for six churches in Galt — Methodist, St. Luke’s Episcopal, Seventh Day Adventist, Horizon, Shepard of the Valley Lutheran, and St. Christopher’s Catholic. They became partners almost nine years ago through an interesting series of circumstances.
The Galt Elementary School District had two outreach counselors who realized the need for clothing and food for many students. They held a community wide meeting with Faye one of the attendees. She ended up volunteering to coordinate the first distribution center which was held at Fairsite Elementary School.
The center was open three days a week with no support except for interested volunteers. “Yet somehow we always had some food and clothes at all times,” Faye said. “And sometimes I wondered how that was possible until I thought of Jesus and the five loaves and two fishes. I had made signs in case we ran out of food but we never had to use them.”
However, when they received fresh produce the school district objected. The district would continue to distribute clothes at Fairsite School but did not want to be responsible for the produce. Another site needed to be found, with the Methodist Church volunteering. That site is actually too small now for all the donated food and the people arriving. “But we’ll make it work,” Faye said.
Last week there were 27 volunteers to distribute and between 75 and 80 people, many with young children, who arrived. And you should see all that is donated.
Raley’s and Save Mart in Galt donate regularly with specified volunteers picking up the food throughout the week. Beside those donations, three years ago the Food Pantry joined Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services who delivers food one day a month (soon will come two days a month). The produce is free. The other food items are paid for by the Food Pantry through monetary donations. Faye said there are regular monetary donors.
Participating churches help in a variety of ways including volunteers at each distribution — (Katie from St. Christopher’s and Ann from St. Luke’s Episcopal are examples). Monetary donations come from the Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheran, St. Luke’s Episcopal and Methodist churches. Food donations are from Horizon and St. Christopher’s churches.
The food goes to more than participants of the food distributions on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. With several senior citizen complexes in Galt, a volunteer goes to each of them at least once a week.
One volunteer is Linda Seashore who happened to mention to neighbors one day that she’d like something to do with her time. This couple was from St. Christopher’s and very faithful to the pantry. They told Linda about what they were doing AND ... Linda now picks up food from Raley’s and Save Mart on Monday through Thursday, distributing to a different senior complex each day. She also works at the regular distributions. The items picked up include bread and pastry and she also goes by the food pantry each day to find extra items which can be distributed.
Mustn’t forget Hazel Hicks and her son Mike. Hazel has been picking up food at Save Mart and Raley’s for years. Mike joined her in the operation three years ago with the muscle to lift heavy boxes. They also distribute to senior centers.
Two other distribution centers are in Galt — Real Life Church distributes twice a month and First Baptist once a month.
The volunteers do a variety of tasks — picking up food, stocking shelves, bagging vegetables, shopping for food when needed and of course cleaning up. Last week when milk was left over they were able to work with another organization so it wouldn’t go to waste.
This is one food pantry — with similar routines at others in Lodi, Galt and beyond. Obviously efforts are greatly appreciated as shown by the thanks given.
Next week meet more people involved.