Category: Donations

One of the sources of funding for the Food Bank, as with so many non-profits, is grants from the government and private foundations. Without such grants, we would not be able to operate because the 5.5 million pounds of food that we provide to recipients is completely free. Whether directly in our distributions or through the agencies we serve. (Incidentally, all of the food we provide to agencies is also either free or highly subsidized through grants and donations.)

With the recession, grants are harder to come by, with more restrictions, and very competitive. Grants and government funding at all levels amounts to only about 10% of our budget. The balance comes from support in donations of food and money. Some of that comes from our association with Feeding America. Some of it comes from our ability to obtain low-cost produce through the Farm to Family Program of the California Association Food Banks. But most of it comes from local donations from people like you who generously give from their hard-earned resources, providing food and money to help us provide for neighbors in need.

In the end, despite the critical funds we receive from the government and private foundations, the Food Bank is continues to fight hunger because of the generosity of our local population. We raise our red, white, and blue hats to you, the people of our county who live by our legacy of a country “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” You remind us that generosity is a critical ingredient in the gift of freedom.

 » Read more about: Reflections on Independence Day  »

Recipe, a local food and beverage marketing company, is holding a Facebook promotion to raise money for the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.  They plan to donate one dollar for every Facebook Like they receive during the holiday season.

“We wanted to support the local food bank and all the work they do.  They are a natural fit for us.  We represent food and beverage companies while they make sure that no one goes hungry,” said Ellen Curtis, owner and managing partner of Recipe.

Each person who Likes Recipe will have a donation made in his or her honor.  Recipe’s goal is to donate $1,000 to the Food Bank, which would provide 7,000 meals to San Luis Obispo County residents.  This is the second year Recipe has held a Facebook promotion for the Food Bank.

“Recipe has built a great community of food and beverage enthusiasts on our Facebook page.  We think our Facebook community would want to do something good.  You can’t love food without being aware of hunger.  Donating is part of being a good corporate citizen and it’s the right thing to do.  All you need to do is click,” said Curtis.

The Food Bank says that one in seven people in the county are food insecure, meaning that they either go hungry on a regular basis, or don’t know where their next meal will come from.

“Because of the economic situation, the need is at record highs, and food costs are also higher than ever.  And because of the cutbacks in government programs, we rely on community support more than ever.  We marvel at the power of social media to help people put their caring to work by doing,” said Carl Hansen, executive director of the Food Bank.

 » Read more about: How does social media help the Food Bank?  »