Community supports Auburn Interfaith Food Closet

UPDATE 1:50 P.M. COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AUBURN INTERFAITH FOOD CLOSET Both of the Auburn Dutch Bros Coffee locations will be donating $1 from every drink sold on Friday Feb. 14 to the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet to support their mission to provide balanced meals to hungry families. If you'd like to get your coffee fix and support a great cause, visit either Dutch Bros Coffee locations on Grass Valley Highway on Feb. 14. ORIGINAL: AUBURN FOOD CLOSET LAUNCHES NEW GROCERY PROGRAM FOR SENIORS The Auburn Interfaith Food Closet has launched a program that will deliver free groceries to low-income homebound seniors. The AIFC is a non-profit organization of volunteers that focuses on feeding hungry families in the greater Auburn area, from Foresthill to Lake of the Pines and from Loomis to Emigrant Gap. According to program manager David Thoene, the purpose of the program is to deliver balanced meals to seniors who do not have reliable transportation or the assistance of a family member or in-home care to pick up groceries from the food closet for them. Other requirements include the individual be 65 years of age or older, not living in an assistance facility where meals are provided, be available to accept food deliveries and have a total household income lower than the federally set poverty guideline. The food deliveries will be scheduled once a month and provide participating seniors with enough groceries for nine meals over three days, Thoene said. The biggest challenge will be identifying and locating seniors who are eligible for the program since they are homebound, said Thoene. The organization's goal is to have 30 active enrollees for this first year of the program. However, according to Thoene, the program will not be limited to 30 participants and they will take as many applicants as they can get. "The most important part of this program is getting them to call and sign up for the service," Thoene said. Once individuals call the organization and their eligibility is confirmed, their food preferences and allergies, if any, will be documented for their basket of food. Anyone who is interested or knows someone who would be interested in participating is encouraged to call the AIFC at 530-885-1921.