Alameda County Community Food Bank

Press Releases:

Contact: Judyth Collin
(510) 636-4902

High Cost of Food Bites Into Donations
Food Bank Urges Community to Contribute

27 May 2008 -- (Oakland, CA) – Despite valiant efforts of local letter carriers, food donations to the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive were down this year at the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Nineteen post offices throughout Alameda County collected 98,500 pounds of food, a decrease of 2 percent from last year; the decrease reflects a nationwide trend for this year’s food drive.

“It’s no secret that more people are feeling the pinch in the current economy,” said Suzan Bateson, executive director of the Food Bank. “With the unprecedented demand the Food Bank is experiencing, even a small decrease in donations affects the amount of food we can deliver to the community. We expect a rough summer, so we are urging organizations, businesses and individuals to organize food drives and make cash donations.”

Calls to the Food Bank’s toll-free Food Helpline, which provides people with emergency food assistance, are at an all-time high. People who call the helpline (800-870-3663) are referred to an agency in their neighborhood that provides same-day emergency food, such as a hot meal or bag of groceries. In April, the Food Bank made a record-breaking 1,890 referrals, a 28 percent increase over last year.

“A new group of people are falling through the cracks and in need of emergency food,” said Bateson. “Each month we are receiving calls from 300 new households who have never had to call for help to feed their families. Perhaps they are not earning enough to meet obligations, have recently lost their job or their home, and are unable to qualify for food stamps.”

The Food Bank is urging the community to donate money or food to help with the expected high demand during the summer. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can distribute seven dollars worth of food. Most needed food items are canned meats and fish, peanut butter, rice, pasta, low-sugar cereals and canned soups. Food drives can be organized by calling the Food Bank at 510-635-3663 ext. 318 or by registering online at www.accfb.org. Financial donations can be made at online at www.accfb.org or by mailing a check to the Food Bank, 7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, 94621.