Twin Lakes Food Bank launches campaign to build larger space to meet growing need

Folsom's Twin Lakes Food Bank announced plans to launch an ambitious campaign to build a new, larger facility to meet the quickly growing needs in El Dorado Hills, Folsom and Granite Bay. The Capital Campaign to Expand Services is a three-year, $3.1 million capital campaign called Building Hope. The kick-off for the campaign was held in Folsom by various community leaders, including Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino. The food bank, founded by a consortium of local church leaders in 1986, has been located in a renovated duplex on Montrose Drive since 1996. In 29 years at that location, the community need has nearly tripled to now serving more than 34,000 people every year, according to Twin Lakes officials. Continued growth of Folsom, including more than 650 additional affordable housing units, will add to the needs at the food bank. "Building a larger food bank is crucial to fulfilling our mission," said Executive Director Lisa Tuter. "That is why we are launching this capital campaign to ensure that when our hungry neighbors come to the food bank, we will be equipped to serve them and not be forced to turn them away emptyhanded." Tuter said the clients, volunteers, staff and board of Twin Lakes Food Bank are thankful for the 16 local churches, nearly 1,700 individual donors, more than 150 local businesses and 12 nonprofit organizations that currently support the food bank services. By raising $3.1 million, the food bank will be able to build a facility behind Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Montrose Drive and serve the community needs. This will double the food bank square footage and increase the capacity to serve at least 60,000 people a year. They will be able to extend distribution days and times to better accommodate the working poor, who currently cannot attend the three-hour morning distribution [Public] sessions. Twin Lakes officials said storage capacity will increase from 600,000 pounds to more than one million pounds. To learn more and join this community effort, email buildinghope@twinlakesfoodbank.org. Twin Lakes Food Bank is a nonprofit organization serving Folsom, El Dorado Hills, and Granite Bay, dedicated to providing nutritious food and compassionate support to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Guided by a mission to share love through community mobilization, they ensure every neighbor in need is served with dignity and resilience.