Who We Are
Food Program
Community Pantry is a non-profit, self-help supplemental food program for low income families in San Benito County. It was established in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens who saw the need for community support for families who had come upon hard times and required assistance. When Community Pantry began, we were able to service 35 families. Now 19 years later, we serve more than 1,700 families each month. The contents of the grocery bags can serve 91,000 meals per month. This is made possible through the support from community donations, grants and volunteer support.
Our income at Community Pantry depends upon our ability to solicit funds from different sources and from monetary donations given by our local community. We are fortunate to live in a community that is willing to help others who are less fortunate than themselves. 100% of all donations made to Community Pantry serve people in San Benito County.
We accept as "member-clients" those who are living at or below 175% of poverty level as mandated by the Federal Government
Over the past year we had a weekly average of:
- 1700 bags of food with an estimated value of between $20 -$23 per bag
- 1000 families served each week
- 4,000 people served weekly, among which are included 2,000 children and 600 seniors
- 23,000 meals per week
Your support for Community Pantry is greatly appreciated..
How the Pantry Makes a Difference
Community Pantry makes a difference in the lives of clients, the community and outside the community.
Emergency Food Program
When the Community Pantry began in 1989 there was only an emergency food program for people in need of food assistance in San Benito County. That program continues today with assistance still on a twice a year basis. Sixteen years ago, the annual Holiday Baskets program by local churches identified a large number of families and senior citizens needing supplemental food assistance on a regular basis.
Enough Food to make a difference
Community Pantry was formed based on that need with a once-a-week supplementary Brown Bag Food Assistance Program. It provides enough food to make a difference in the lives of the working poor, poor single-parent families, and poor senior citizens. Seniors can eat and buy medicine. Families can have more nutrition, buy clothing items or buy medicine. Many of our client-members (called members) have said they simply would not have an evening meal without the food and the referral information from Community Pantry. Eight former client members have returned to volunteer and raise funds for the program.
Children: One of our main concerns
Children eating nothing except a cup of noodles between school lunch and school breakfast the next day (seventeen hours) cannot perform well in class. A study done by the WIC Program in Monterey County showed that an evening meal of Ramen Noodles, crackers or bread was most common among the children of poverty level and below poverty level households. Noodles are filling, but lack the needed nutrition for good health. A well nourished child is able to pay attention more in school and as a result learns more. A child's self esteem is also jeopardized when a basic need, such as enough nutritious food is not available. Community Pantry supplies families and seniors with supplementary fresh and nonperishable food. A large group of people are served with a small group of volunteers and a small budget.
Recipient participation is key to the existence of our food program.
This organization fills the need for ongoing food assistance with four brown bag food distributions, and gives large amounts of food, free of charge, to twelve other food and feeding programs in San Benito County. We network with twenty-three local agencies serving the poor and with eleven agencies outside San Benito County. Recipient participation makes the program affordable. Their contribution is 40% of the labor and 10% of the budget. This gives responsibility to members and raises their self esteem. In addition, members help set policy for distribution.
Accomplishments
1989 Member Participation Program; able members are required to work a specific number of hours a month
1990 Member Communication Program established. Referral service, quarterly member meetings, elected advisory Board of eight representatives
1991 Community Pantry recorgnized for outstanding community service by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce
1991 Acquired a facility from the City of Hollister, that was renovated by community donated material and labor.
1992 Community Panty incorporated
1993 Food Trading Network Established
1994 Disaster Preparedness plan, manual, map showing victim service centers and shelters ,agency and community disaster drills with the Red Cross and the local Office of Emergency Service
2001 volume of bags distributed doubles as need grows; staffing increases, donated vehicles go from 2 to 4 to facilitate deliveries and distribution
2003 Web page goes up Computer system is upgraded
2004 Celebration of the 15th Anniversary of Community Pantry with a
Volunteer Appreciation Barbecue and a Donor Appreciation Reception
2005 Meet Community Foundation Challenge Grant goal of $10,000 and set up
the $20,000 Endowment Fund with a goal of $1,000,000
2006 Community Panty moves to new location which allows for expansion in distribution and storage of food.
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