Neighbors helping neighbors: Local donors rally to meet growing food needs

As more Placer County families struggle to keep food on the table, local donors are stepping up. Through Placer Community Foundation, a group of generous donors came together to invest $57,500 in Feeding the Foothills, ensuring the organization can continue serving the growing number of neighbors who need a helping hand. The investment comes at a critical time. During the past year, Feeding the Foothills distributed 12 million pounds of pantry staples and produce, an 8.5 percent increase over the previous year. The organization is increasingly serving working families, older adults living on fixed incomes, veterans, students and others who continue to struggle with rising housing, transportation, healthcare and grocery costs. While the grant will support organizational capacity rather than purchasing food, that investment is essential. As demand continues to grow, Feeding the Foothills must strengthen the people, systems, transportation and warehouse operations that make it possible to safely source, recover and distribute millions of pounds of food across Placer County. "When we heard how quickly the need was growing, our donors immediately wanted to help," said Veronica Blake, CEO of Placer Community Foundation. "They recognized this wasn't just about providing food today. It was about making sure Feeding the Foothills has the capacity to serve our community in the months and years ahead. Several of our donors stepped up immediately to meet this urgent need, with our unrestricted Community Needs Fund providing the remaining support needed to make this investment possible. This is community philanthropy at its best." The grant was made possible through the generosity of the following charitable funds at Placer Community Foundation: Cardno-Silvers Fund Cathy and Jim Haagen-Smit Charitable Fund Charles and Gail Muskavitch Endowment Fund Chey and Mark Bryant Community Fund Community Needs Fund Constantino Family Fund Margie Charity Fund Marsh Family Fund Morgan Miller Fund Ruth Burgess Women's Fund Stuart and Linda Yaffe Fund Veronica Blake Fund Walter and Irmgard Schichtel Fund "Behind every number is a family trying to make ends meet," said Dave Martinez, Executive Director of Feeding the Foothills. "Many of the people we serve have jobs. They're seniors living on fixed incomes, veterans, students and parents who are doing everything they can but still need a little help. This generous investment means we'll be ready for them." The partnership between Placer Community Foundation and Feeding the Foothills has a long history of creating lasting impact. In 2015, PCF helped fund a tractor trailer that continues to deliver approximately 60,000 pounds of food each year to rural partner agencies and community distribution sites throughout Placer County. Over its lifetime, that single investment has generated an estimated $1.15 million in community impact. The need is expected to continue growing. Feeding the Foothills anticipates additional demand as more affordable housing comes online throughout Placer County and recent federal changes to CalFresh are projected to leave approximately 3,500 county residents without food assistance benefits. "Food insecurity doesn't always look the way people expect," Blake said. "It affects hardworking people, seniors, veterans and families who are doing everything they can to stay afloat. We hope this gift inspires others to support Feeding the Foothills and invest in solutions that help every neighbor thrive." Community members who would like to help keep healthy food moving to the neighbors who need it most are encouraged to support Feeding the Foothills. Donations help the organization meet growing demand across our region. To learn more or make a gift, visit feedingthefoothills.org. Those who would like to support a broader range of urgent community needs can contribute to Placer Community Foundation's Community Needs Fund, which provides flexible support to address emerging challenges across Placer County. Learn more or make a gift at placercf.org.