FOOD DISTRIBUTION EXPANDS IN WILLITS
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Shelter-in-place (SIP) order that has been in effect for over half a year in Mendocino County, more residents than usual are in need of assistance. Fortunately, the small town of Willits has several options for free food distribution sites.
Redwood Empire Food Bank is hosting monthly drive through food pickup at Laughlin Fields on 600 East Commercial Street. On the first Tuesday of the month, community members can pick up food from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Seniors (60 years and older) can pick up food from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at Laughlin Fields or from 1-2p.m. at Baechtel Creek Apartments (61 Alder Court).
Marketing and Public Relations Manager Rachelle Mesheau said that diabetic options are available in the senior basket. The baskets include fresh produce, protein, dairy and staple pantry items. She said that the number of people Redwood Empire Food Bank serves has increased 150200 percent on a monthly basis, in April they saw a 400 percent increase in the number of people served.
Pre-pandemic, Redwood Empire Food Bank would set up a market where people could come in and choose the food items they needed. In response to COVID-19, they switched to a drive through pick up model where residents can come and grab a box of food to avoid contact and increase safety. Mesheau said, “The community has been really great at stepping it up, giving us donations and coming and volunteering as we need it. We are really thankful that the community has been there for us because we wouldn’t be able to do this alone.”
Willits Community Services and Food Bank has seen an increase in need not only due to the pandemic, but also due to the wildfires. They have food boxes available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1- 4:30 p.m. at 229 East San Francisco Street. They offer a variety of items, depending on what they have available; fresh produce, meat, bread, cereal, cheese, beans, rice and eggs are items they regularly hand out.
Executive Director Ruthanne Volz said they could use donations of condiments, such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and salad dressing, to add to the boxes.
Willits Community Services and Food Bank also has a new, no- cost elderly food delivery program available to residents aged 60 years old or older. Two board members go to the senior housing apartments and deliver
food to people who request it. Volz says some elderly residents have not left their homes since the SIP order went into effect in March, and food delivery is essential for these people.
Volz said, “We want people to know that service is available to elders.” Call (707) 459-3333 for more information.
Willits Daily Bread continues to serve food daily Monday-thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at St. Francis in the Redwoods Episcopal Church on East Commercial and Main streets. Cindy Savage said she also noticed an increase in people served due the pandemic. “We are feeding more people.”
She said previous to the pandemic, they had not served more than a thousand meals per month, they have now met that benchmark and are serving more than a thousand meals monthly. Savage also said they have been receiving a lot of donations from locals’ gardens.
While Savage has been doing the behind the scene tasks, such as accounting, her son Jacob Savage has taken over the food preparation and distribution. She said, “Jacob has really taken it to heart to make sure he is feeding people lots of yummy food. He is doing a good job.” Anyone who is hungry can come grab a meal.
On Saturdays in the City Hall parking lot, there is a brown bag lunch available for free from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Brown Bag lunch is put on by a variety of organizations who rotate, taking turns with the food preparation and distribution.