CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) — Even on Christmas Eve, volunteers are busy filling meals baggage for distribution on the Meals Financial institution of Contra Costa and Solano. Official says the demand is up 20% simply within the month of December.
“We serve sufficient meals for 65,000 households each single month in Contra Costa and Solano counties. So, there are actually hundreds of people who find themselves apprehensive about the place their subsequent meal goes to return from,” explains Caitlin Sly, CEO of Meals Financial institution of Contra Costa and Solano.
Sly says the meals financial institution is now distributing 2.7 million meals each month. She says a few of it is because of economics such because the Bay Space’s excessive value of residing and inflation. However she provides, many individuals are nonetheless recovering from the pandemic.
“I believe individuals have the sensation that the pandemic is over by some means. However we have not seen the necessity go down. And so persons are actually nonetheless struggling, and want meals,” says Sly.
MORE: SF Salvation Military coping with repeat battery theft forward of Christmas meal deliveries
Maxina Ingersol is a highschool volunteer. She retains coming again understanding the impression the meals financial institution has on the area people.
“It was very stunning to me how many individuals, near the place I reside, battle with meals insecurity. However I believe it was additionally very stunning – at first, I assumed it was simply homeless individuals or people who find themselves extraordinarily poor. However it’s folks that have homes, folks that have jobs,” says Ingresol.
Charlene Clark is an everyday volunteer. She’s under no circumstances shocked by the rise in meals insecurity – even in prosperous elements of Contra Costa County.
“It’s simply costly throughout. Housing is pricey. And I can see by the individuals coming in simply how a lot they respect while you do hand out the meals on the senior distributions, on the different distributions. There’s a actual want for it,” says Clark, who lives in Harmony, the place the meals financial institution is situated.
MORE: North Bay meals financial institution points vacation SOS for donations
Sly says each greenback donated interprets into two meals. However donations are down.
“The vacations are actually a important time. It’s make or break for meals banks,” says Sly.
Sly says they’re working a “3 Million Meal” marketing campaign, with purpose of elevating sufficient cash for 3 million meals by the tip of the yr. In any other case, the meals financial institution will face challenges within the new yr.
“We’ve got to make some powerful choices about what varieties of meals we’re in a position to distribute how a lot meals we’re in a position to distribute. We do not wish to should make these powerful choices,” says Sly.
To make a donation, click on right here.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
