Green Oaks Does it Again!
The students of Green Oaks Fundamental Elementary focus on giving back to our community. How? Over the past 5 years, this elementary school has participated in an Adopt-A-Month program with the Orangevale Food Bank, and has continued to bring in more canned and perishable foods than any other Elementary school in our area.
Noah and Jake Wright, two of Green Oaks’ students, spend their Wednesday nights volunteering their time at the Orangevale Food Bank. They believe that by helping the community by distributing food to the people who need it is the best way to give back. Noah explains, “it helps the population of people in need, and by having Green Oaks give back with this food drive.”
The idea of having enough food to live off of is something these two young men deem important within their community. Noah, again explains, “When you give back to the food bank, they will then give food to hungry people. I know how much comes in and goes out every week, so I know how important it is to get our school to donate more.” Being able to have a part in their school’s food drive was not only important to them, but it is pertinent to the operations of the Orangevale Food Bank.
Although Noah and Jake volunteer every week with their family, Jake exclaims, “Just because I volunteer doesn’t mean there still isn’t hungry people in our community. I want to help those in need by donating food at our food drive, and volunteering, which will help them feel healthy, happy, and have enough food to live. They don’t need to struggle, so now they have the food they need, thanks to the Orangevale Food Bank.”
This year, Green Oaks was able to gather 3,764 pounds of food, which is yet another record for this elementary school. “Last year we did the highest ever reported for a food drive, but this year, we topped that by over 1,000 pounds of food!” shared Noah.
Without the continuous help from local schools such as Green Oaks, the Orangevale Food Bank would not be able to distribute food to those in our community. We are blessed to have the relationships we do with our local schools. Thank you, Green Oaks!
Local Girl Scouts Making a Difference
Girl Scout Troop 828 has dedicated several evenings to serving at the Orangevale Food Bank. An energized group of 6th-8th grade girls come in to clean, restock and bag food, and much more.
They are currently working on receiving their Silver Award, which consists of 50 hours of community service work. One of the troop members, Chloe, stated, “I enjoy coming because I know I am getting something done.” This “something” is a huge asset to our local community here in Orangevale. Teaching our youth about the hunger needs close to home, and how they can go about helping them, opens their eyes up to so many opportunities for service.
These girls have been dedicating their time to the Food Bank since December 26th 2015. They are currently awaiting the spring weather so they can begin their new project of raising four of our ongoing gardens.
These gardens are an asset to our new developments and changes. They will be used to help teach our youth about growing crops and tending to their needs though out the seasons.
The Orangevale Food Bank would like to give a huge thank you to Troop 828. We appreciate you dedication, selflessness, and will to help others. Thank you!
Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Castro
Linda has been with the Food Bank since day one. She began her journey by exploring the different facets of the Food Bank, and one day was asked to help with the produce. Today she is known as our produce lady; fully dedicated to what she does with a smile on her face.
Being placed face-to-face with our neighbors truly called upon her heart and her desire to serve those in need. Linda proclaimed, “There is nothing more satisfying than to see the joy and appreciation that the OVFB brings to those in need, and know that I am a part of it. It was then that I knew in my heart that this was the place I was meant to serve.”
This year, Linda was voted our “All About People” Core Value award winner. With these awards we are able to capture the essence of our volunteers, and display their love for this community. Without volunteers such as Linda, we would not be able to greet our neighbors with the love and support that we do now.
Every day we open our doors to serve, the smiling faces of our volunteers are what sets us a part from other organizations.
Linda explains it as, “I love being part of a start-up organization. So far it has been an amazing journey seeing the Food Bank grow in the number of people it serves, and it is rewarding to know that volunteers, like myself, are an essential part of its success to get through the growing pains. Where there is growth, there is opportunity.” We could not have explained it better ourselves.
Dovewood Court Brings Food in For Our Neighbors
A holiday tradition we all partake in is driving around searching for the most decorative front yards covered in Christmas lights. In Orangevale, we are fortunate enough to have Dovewood Court. This fully dedicated court gives life to an ongoing holiday destination for friends and families coming together to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
Not only does this court sacrifice the silence and peace that is found within the nights approaching Christmas, but they also dedicate themselves to collecting canned food for our neighbors through Food For Families. This year, the Orangevale Food Bank was blessed
with 12,000 pounds of the donations Dovewood Court received this holiday season.
We would like to give a special thank you to the Transtrum family for once again hosting this event throughout the holidays. This court is an iconic part of many people’s holiday season, and we thank you for continuing the tradition as well as taking the time to donate your earnings to the Orangevale Food Bank.
Saying Goodbye to 2015, Welcoming the New Year
Looking back on the blessings we have received this year, we could not be more appreciative to the new changes that have been implemented, the old and new volunteers who pour their hearts our every time they serve, the blessing of our new Director, Tom Carden, and all of the hearts we fill by following the footsteps of our Lord. Although we will be closed for the last two weeks of December and the first week of January, we are eager to get back into the rhythm of serving and helping our neighbors in need.
In this next year we hope to accomplish a new multifunctional covered patio as well as a walk in freezer with the help of Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church. These changes will assist in extending the shelf life of our food, which is pertinent to how many neighbors we can serve. Our covered patio will allow us to protect our neighbors as well as our volunteers from the elements related to each season.
We are truly excited to be a part of these constant changes here at the Orangevale Food Bank, and look forward to the new faces we will meet in 2016. Thank you all for your dedication, donations, and open hearts. We cannot thank you enough for all you do for us because without you, we would not be the operation we are today. From our Food Bank family to yours, Merry Christmas and have a safe and Happy New Year.
God Bless,
Orangevale Food Bank
Holiday Hours of Operation
Feeling Blessed: Thanksgiving 2015
After testing out a new method of handing out our Thanksgiving boxes, we are able to say that this has been our most successful Thanksgiving event to date! The Orangevale Food Bank was able to provide 280 people with the items necessary to make their Thanksgiving feasts.
We would like to take the time to give a special thanks to our dedicated volunteers who shine their hearts in the best way for the goodness of our neighbors as well as the people and businesses to follow:
- The generous contributions from our grocery store sponsors (Fair Oaks Trader Joe’s and Orangevale Walmart, and Orangevale Save Mart).
- Our grocery store food drive sponsors (Orangevale Walmart, Fair Oaks Safeway).
- The turkey donations from Senator Ted Gaines’ office.
- The turkey donations from Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
- The turkey donations from The Life Center Church in Orangevale.
- The many organizations and schools who support us with food drives throughout the year via our Adopt-a-Month program
- The community donations which helped buy the additional items needed.
Without the constant support of you all we would not be the organization we are today. We are ecstatic to share some of our blessings with those around us. Here are a few pictures from our preparation and event.
For more pictures from our Thanksgiving event please visit Thanksgiving 2015 Facebook Photos!
El Camino Fundamental High School Gives Back
Each month, the Orangevale Food Bank has a school within our community
host a food drive. As a way to bring comfort to our neighbors within the community, these schools make it their challenge to see how much food they can collect and donate within a month’s time. This is also a way to highlight the kids in our community by showing that “Kids Can!” collect food, and help make a positive change to their community.
Although El Camino High School is not within the city of Orangevale, Carli, a Senior and Community Service Lead at El Camino High School divulged, “When I became the service lead, I told everyone we were donating to the Orangevale Food Bank just like last year. It doesn’t even matter that we are from different areas. I just really like what you guys do for the people in the community!”
Carli shared how her school was able to rally together to collect 2,565 pounds of food for the Orangevale Food Bank, and how they were able to do just that by proclaiming:
“El Camino Fundamental High School has been involved in the Canned Food Drive for many years and we have had the privilege of donating to Orangevale the last two years. Each week our student government class goes out and collects the cans from the classrooms. The class with the most cans, the winning class collects about 100 cans, that week receives a prize like root beer floats, pizza, or free admission to the Haunted House. Our Haunted House is right in the middle of our Canned Food Drive so the admission we asked for is a donation of 3 cans or $3 because the money we earn is used to buy more cans! In addition to the car loads of cans, we collected $120 where we turned the proceeds into a couple hundred more cans. This had given our students an opportunity to give back, even just a little, and serve our community for those in need.”
Without these kinds of stories, the Orangevale Food Bank would not be able to rally our community together to make it known that hunger is a serious issue, and we can make a difference. Every little bit counts. Thank you El Camino for reaching out to us again this year for your Canned Food Drive. We appreciate your support and all of your donations.
Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities
The Orangevale Food Bank is looking for people like you to come out and assemble/distribute Thanksgiving boxes on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. This project is our way of giving back to our community, and it can only be made possible with the help from our volunteers. By giving back to our neighbors in this way, we are able to spread the joy and love the holiday season brings us with those who need a little extra faith and happiness. So, if you find it in your heart to come out and join us on Friday, Saturday, or Monday, we would love to have you! Please sign up at: http://www.orangevalefoodbank.org/volunteer-central-2/ 