A faithful response to hunger

As millions of people of all faiths prepare for the holidays, from religious organizations in Yolo County will distribute meals to families in need.

The Food Bank of Yolo County, the county’s largest hunger-relief organization, receives a great deal of support from the faith community to help address the issue of hunger. Fifty-five percent of the agencies operating emergency feeding programs served by the Feeding America, a nationwide food bank network, are religious. In Yolo County, 38 percent of the nonprofit agencies we partner with are faith-based.

FBYC works with 22 religious organizations year round, distributing about three million pounds of food to those in need in our community. To assist with Thanksgiving, organizations including First Southern Baptist Church of West Sacramento, Davis Community Meals, Church on the Rock, Homeward Bound Outreach, Fourth & Hope and the Dunnigan Christian Community provided prepared meals to families and individuals needing help or food assistance for the holidays.

FBYC has also been the recipient of food donations from local organizations such as the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, whose congregation donated nearly 500 pounds of food. This January, St. James Catholic Church will generously host Soup’s On, a fundraiser founded by Supervisor Don Saylor, which will benefit FBYC’s Kid’s Farmers Market program.

These soup kitchens, pantries and shelters, often primarily staffed by volunteers and financed entirely by donations, are critical to FBYC’s mission to fight hunger in Yolo County.

Religious traditions urge their followers to help those less fortunate. All are united in the quest to make the world a better place by lending support to those who cannot provide for their families this holiday season—and year round.

Interested in getting involved? If you belong to a faith-based group, find out what their community service projects are. It may already have a relationship with FBYC.

Want to volunteer with us directly? Contact FBYC to learn more about volunteer opportunities, like helping with a direct distribution program or working a one-time event. We can also provide helpful information for running your own food drive.

To learn more about the Food Bank of Yolo County and our partner organization, please visit www.foodbankyc.org or contact us directly at 530-668-0690.

— Shawn Kramer is the community relations manager at the Food Bank of Yolo County