Food banks extremely busy during pandemic

Visits to area food pantries are rising because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused layoffs and business closures. "We've seen pretty much an average of a 25-percent increase in food assistance and in some cases up to 40 percent," said Placer Food Bank director of development Lisa Heinrich. Placer Food Bank's 30,000-square-foot warehouse in Roseville is a logistics center, with trucks delivering thousands of pounds of food weekly to relief partners in Placer, El Dorado and Nevada counties. "In fiscal year 2019-2020, we delivered over 6.8 million pounds of food, which translates to over 8 million meals to those in need," she said. The best way to help: Monetary donations. "We can leverage every dollar we receive," Heinrich said. "It elevates our purchasing ability for food." Placer Food Bank is a member of the nationwide Feeding America network, California Association of Food Banks and works with numerous retail and corporate partners. There are also partnerships with area farmers for locally-grown produce. "We receive USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) food and food from our partners like Raley's Food for Families, Safeway, Walmart, Costco and SaveMart," Heinrich said. Because of that, every dollar donated equals 10 meals. Every dollar equals 12 pounds of food. Every dollar equals $20 worth of groceries, she said. The food bank offers a free monthly drive-through farmers' market distribution program in Lincoln and Rocklin, as well as Pollock Pines, Placerville, Sheridan, Cameron Park and Georgetown. The Salvation Army in Roseville is part of the food assistance network. Its food pantry is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. A hot meal is available from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday. The number of residents seeking food assistance has doubled this year, receptionist Sarah Pettit said. Along with monetary donations, the Salvation Army welcomes food donations "as long as they are unopened and unexpired," Pettit said. "Canned goods are a big thing for us." As Thanksgiving nears, holiday foods and turkey donations are welcome, too. The Salvation Army's holiday donation programs include collection barrels and the Angel Tree partnership with Walmart that provides new clothing and toys for children and families. And Salvation Army volunteers will ring bells over the holiday season in the annual Red Kettle donation drive. "We're still looking for volunteer bell ringers," Pettit said. First United Methodist Church of Loomis' food pantry is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (closed holidays). The church has seen a big increase in those seeking assistance. "We don't need food donations. We just had a bunch of food dropped off," office manager Sharon Gipson said. "What we need are cash donations (to fund) the gift card we give away with the bags of food." The Loomis church includes a gift card to purchase perishable items that are not available through its food program, Gipson said. The nonprofit Salt Mine is the primary food closet distribution site in Lincoln, serving Sheridan as well. COVID-19 has not only increased need in the community, it has changed the way Salt Mine is distributing food. The food pantry is open 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays through Fridays and noon to 1 pm. Saturdays. It's now a drive-up service, with volunteers placing the food box directly in each vehicle, Salt Mine President Eric Long said. "This year, we are experiencing about five times the amount of our normal output," Long said. The greatest need is money. "Simply because we can purchase specific foods that we know are safe to distribute from wholesalers," Long said. "With every dollar that is donated, we are able to purchase almost 10 times the amount a resident could purchase at a grocery store for retail." Salt Mine also accepts food donations, with holiday specific foods ideal this time of year, according to Long. "We have to be very cautious and careful of the whole concept with cross-contamination," Long said. "If you are going to donate, it must be brought directly from the store and not from your home. It's how we have to practice our food safety (in the pandemic)." Abundant Life Fellowship in Roseville welcomes donations of non-perishable food items, as well as coats, gloves, hats and sleeping bags. "We don't have a set schedule," church secretary Kelley Greene said. "If someone is hungry, we will get them some canned food. Some homeless people come and they are just hungry. A lot of homeless ask for sleeping bags or tents."