A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

So Much More Than Food...

Run to Feed the HungryThanksgiving Day 2010

See page 6

Thirty-four years ago, Father Daniel Madiganbegan serving food to the Sacramento com-munity out of the basement of the

Immaculate Conception Church on Broadway. Painedby so many hungry faces – including small children –on the streets of Sacramento, he foundedSacramento Food Bank & Family Services with thehelp of a small group of volunteers and church mem-bers. Since then, SFBFS has grown and expandedexponentially to meet the ever increasing needs ofthe community.

In 1988, the Food Assistance program movedout of the church basement when SFBFS purchasedthe old Arata Brothers grocery store at 3333 ThirdAve. in Oak Park. The 30,000-foot facility becameSFBFS’ headquarters. Immediately, the Clothingprogram started and an Adult Education programsprang up the following year. The Mother-Baby pro-gram was added a few years later.

Later, programs for children like PlayCare, YouthAcademy and Computer Clubhouse were added, aswell as the Women’s Wisdom Art program. 1,500 vol-unteers provided support with these programs by2001. These numbers continued to grow, as did theneed for services.

In February 2005, a second center in NorthSacramento was built at 2469 Rio Linda Blvd. Thenew center was dubbed Saca Community LearningCenter after the Saca family, who supported SFBFSand served on the board over the years. The facilityoffers Mother-Baby, Adult Education, PlayCare, andYouth Academy programs.

The operations model for food distributionchanged in 2008 to better serve community needs.The focus shifted to healthy food, and mobile distribu-tions began bringing food directly to neighborhoods.

The new approach to food distribution gained recog-nition and won the Bank of America NeighborhoodExcellence Initiative Award in 2009.

SFBFS continues to grow. October 2010 marked thegroundbreaking ceremony for a new Education Centerand Urban Farm. There are now over 4,000 volunteerskeeping Father Madigan’s passion for helping those inneed alive through eight diverse programs.

SFBFS has grown and expanded exponentially to meet the ever

increasing needs of the community

Servingmorethan justfood

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services isfamous for food distribution. But according toSFBFS Communication and Development DirectorKelly Siefkin, most people do not realize there areeight programs: Food Assistance, Clothing, Mother-Baby, Adult Education, Women’s Wisdom Art,PlayCare, Youth Academy, and ComputerClubhouse. All of these programs are offered freeof charge to residents.

Food Assistance Director Marshal Graves said, “Alot of people think the people who come to us arehomeless, have addiction problems and have mentalhealth issues. We get people who look like you andme – people who had jobs and could take care oftheir families. They have lost their jobs, they have losttheir house. It is difficult for some of those people toask for help, but they do.”

With locations in Oak Park and NorthSacramento, these diverse programs come togetherto prepare those in need for greater self-sufficiencyand create healthier communities.

PlayCare offers funlearning

From the time young children can walk,Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ PlayCareprogram sparks an early interest in learning. Whileparents attend Adult Education classes at SFBFS,PlayCare provides a safe, fun and educationalplace for toddlers. The cooperative program keepsparents involved in their children’s care.

A typical day in the program includes a snack,art projects, group circle time, games, reading andother activities. Aurelia Garcia, Program Manager ofthe Oak Park location, carefully designs activities

Serving since

1976by Anna Barela

2 November 18, 2010 / Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services / A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

that will enhance emotional, cognitive and motorskill development. She hopes these activities willprepare youngsters for kindergarten.

“We teach our little ones their colors, shapes,numbers and ABCs,” Garcia said. “We also provideour 3+ children with homework packets to takehome, allowing parent to take an active role inhelping their kids succeed.”

Parents also help in the PlayCare classroom,volunteering once a week to assist with reading tothe children during circle time, preparing snacksand helping children with art projects.

“This helps our parents to see how we interactwith the children and provides them with theopportunity to practice their English skills andimprove their parenting techniques,” Garcia said. “Itis an honor to work with all of our families and seetheir love and commitment to improving their fami-ly’s future, understanding that education is the keyto their success.”

PlayCare is not a licensed daycare. The OakPark and North Sacramento facilities offer care forchildren at least 1 year old and walking up to age5 whose parents are attending Adult Education orMother-Baby classes. PlayCare allows parents tofocus on their learning. The educational settingengages children, stimulating growth and preparingthem for preschool and kindergarten.

Raising healthyand happy babies

A very special program at Sacramento FoodBank & Family Services is the Mother-Baby pro-gram. Volunteers and staff help guide and empow-er new mothers to give their babies bright andhealthy futures.

In preparation for baby’s arrival, support beginswith packages for pregnant mothers in their eighthmonth. After birth, mom can bring her new bundleof joy with her to the Mother-Baby program. Momwill receive emotional support in a group settingand individual mentoring. Many mothers like groupsupport because they find other moms experiencingthe same parenting challenges.

Individual mentoring sessions assess the needsof each family and refer necessary communityresources. Volunteers sit down with new par-ents and discuss anything they may be facingand provide guidance along the way. Parentsin need receive emergency supplies of for-mula, baby food, clothing and diapers.

In exchange for free services, parents arerequired to attend at least one monthly familylife workshop. All parents are invited to attend asmany workshops as they like. These include familybudgeting, health andhygiene, childdevelopment,communication,stress manage-ment, and nutri-tion. There are alsofun classes likestory time, play-group and yoga.Although most ofthe students aremoms, a few bravedads attend.

Oak Park Program Manager Lorena Carranza prom-ises her clients, “I will welcome you with open armsand all my heart. I am committed to listen to you andto support you.”

Mother-Baby services are offered until childrenreach two years of age. Once babies become tod-dlers, PlayCare is provided while parents attendclasses. Staff and volunteers work with parents tohelp create stronger and healthier families.

Mireya Estrella, the Mother-Baby ProgramManager in North Sacramento said, “The programis here to positively impact the lives of parents andchildren by providing tools and resources to pro-mote happy and healthy homes.”

Supporting youthElementary school children thrive at

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ YouthAcademy. Enrolled students attend five days aweek for tutoring, homework help, exciting games,activities and field trips. Dedicated volunteershelp students succeed in their scholastic and per-sonal development.

Students enrolled in first through sixth arerequired to attend every weekday. During this time,volunteer tutors work one on one with students tocomplete their homework and develop their aca-demic skills.

But it’s not just academics that help childrenthrive. Through partnerships with REI and SierraClub Inner City Outings, SFBFS is able to provideeducational field trips. These trips focus on teach-ing children about taking care of the environmentand giving back to the community.

Field trips range from exploring the MontereyBay Aquarium and hiking in Muir Woods to climbingat the REI Cal Expo store. Students have joinedcommunity service projects such as cleaning LakeNatoma at the CSUS Aquatic Center, clearing trailsand helping clean the Yolo Wildlife reserve area.They visited gold mines and experienced history. Inthe spirit of fun, they also went bowling and had achance to bring their families along to a danceperformance at the Crest Theatre.

“Our students work hard for the things theyreceive from our program,” Garcia said.

“They work hard to earn goodgrades and show respect

towards their peers, ourstaff and volunteers.”

A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review / SacramentoFoodBank.org / November 18, 2010 3

After her fourth baby was born, Sandra Redmon heard about theMother-Baby program at Sacramento Food Bank & FamilyServices. She came seeking help with structure and discipline for

her four children, and Mother-Baby welcomed her with personal mentor-ing and group support.

Redmon and her husband Tim live in Sacramento and have beenmarried for 18 years. Their oldest daughter, Dallas, is 16, and theirsons, Timothy and Bryan, are 12 and 9. The baby, Cheyenne, is now ayear and a half. Redmon enjoys staying home with her children, butshe looks forward to getting out of the house with Cheyenne to attendMother-Baby support groups.

“We just sit and talk,” she said. “There are a lot of you there, andyou get different inputs of what people are going through. You canrelate, and nothing goes out of the room. Everything stays private.”

As Cheyenne began crawling, they attended play groups and storytime activities. Mother and baby attended together, playing, listeningto stories, singing songs and coloring. Redmon also began advocatingfor cloth diapering in the Mother-Baby program.

Cheyenne’s pediatrician recommended using cloth diapers tem-porarily when she was five months old to address a rash that wouldn’theal. Redmon liked using cloth so much that she stuck with them. Shequickly connected with other moms getting the cloth diaper classes atthe Mother-Baby program.

“I brought samples of diapers in and showed people how they usethem, how beneficial they were to save you money, and how easy it is!”she said. Redmon feels the Mother-Baby program has helped with all herchildren. Her baby received a boost in social skills though playtime withother children. Redmon gleaned advice on helping her teenage daughterpursue jobs and how to help her son who has ADD.

“I’ve been able to talk to my kids in more of a positive manner,” shesaid. “It was nice to be able to find somebody to talk to.”

When Cheyenne is older, Redmon is considering tak-ing classes in the Adult Education program at SFBFS.She loves being around children and eventually hopesto take early childhood education classes so she canwork in a daycare center when Cheyenne goes tokindergarten.

Sandra Redmon: Growing withMother-Baby

Continuedon page 4

PHOTO BY RYAN DONAHUE

Building skills through technology

The Computer Clubhouse at Sacramento FoodBank & Family Services brings exciting technologi-cal experiences to Oak Park junior high and highschool students. Through partnership with Intel,Computer Clubhouse provides students withadvanced technology and sophisticated software, aswell as homework help, team building and life skills.

When students come to the Clubhouse afterschool, the first priority is homework. They can usecomputers and printers, which many students donot have at home. After homework, students havethe opportunity to explore exciting technologicalprojects like computer animation, web develop-ment, sound editing and photography and videog-raphy programs with SFBFS staff and volunteers.

Four-year volunteer Greg Hoyt, who is retiredfrom Intel, recalls one project when students builtrobots. “We had a volunteer expert on robots comein and have the kids build them out of Legos,actually motorize them, and run them by remotecontrol,” he said. These projects give students ahealthy avenue for expression and constructivelearning that they enjoy.

With the guidance and support of volunteersand staff, youth receive quality mentorship,resources, skills and experiences that help shapetheir future. Computer Clubhouse gives students achance to learn and thrive.

Meeting clothingneeds

An exciting shopping experience awaits fami-lies in need at Sacramento Food Bank & FamilyServices’ Clothing program. Even those who cannotafford clothes can browse racks and feel the thrillof finding that special outfit for school or the per-fect suit to nail a job interview. Program managerTasha Bryant displays clothing sorted on racks,providing 450,000 articles of clothing per year toindividuals in need throughout Sacramento.

“We want people to feel like they’re in a store,”Bryant said. “We really want to keep their dignityintact. I personally feel like society makes peoplewho are in need feel like they have done somethingwrong. In the Clothing program we work hard to dis-pel that and just create a shopping experience forpeople that need clothing.”

Many of Bryant’s clients are working peoplewith limited funds. They need business attire for jobinterviews or to maintain employment. She gets

frequent requests for black pants and white shirtsbecause many jobs require a uniform.

The biggest need is for children’s clothing.Parents come in because they cannot afford schooluniforms or sports attire. Recently, Halloween cos-tumes were on display for kids who otherwisewouldn’t have a costume. The focus is on providingitems that allow children to participate in activitiesthey should not miss due to economic status.

There is a separate section with trendy teenclothes because teens are often embarrassed andnot aggressive shoppers. Men’s and women’sclothes are also kept separate. Bryant reports diffi-culty keeping popular items such as big-and-tall formen and plus-sizes for women on the shelves. Allthe clothes are donated and given free to cus-tomers up to once a month.

“We want to meet specific needs because every-body has a different need,” Bryantsaid. We have really fabulous

donors, so we are able to meetsome very specific needs here.”

Women’s art program paintsbrighter futures

Twenty years ago, Sister Laura Ann noticed thatwhen she gave small art projects to homeless,addicted and abused female clients, their-selfesteem increased and they recovered more quickly.Today, the healing power of art is open to womenfrom all walks of life through Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services’ Women’s Wisdom Art program.

Sister Laura Ann started Women’s Wisdom Artin a storefront on 24th Street with funding from TheSisters of Mercy. SFBFS President/CEO BlakeYoung, along with founder Father Madigan, built aclassroom and rescued Women’s Wisdom Art in2000 when Sister Laura Ann lost her funding. Theymade Women’s Wisdom Art part of SFBFS’ familyand expanded services to all women.

The program attracts students with a variety ofbackgrounds. Some have illnesses like fibromyalgiaor chronic fatigue syndrome. Some are stroke orcancer survivors, widows, or caregivers. Othersspent years raising children and are trying to rede-fine themselves. Some just love art!

“This eclectic mix of women is using the powerof art to heal and strengthen their minds, heartsand souls,” Program Manager Helen Plenert said.“The bond they form while creating in the class-room is truly a work of art.”

Plenert believes artistic exploration naturallybrings greater self-knowledge. Opportunities for cre-ativity include drawing, textiles, clay, mixed media,poetry, creative writing and painting with acrylicsand watercolors, with all supplies provided at nocost. Classes are taught by professional artists, andlunch is provided. No experience is needed, and theinformal setting allows artists to set their own pace.

Marina Alba wanted to learn to speak English so she couldunderstand those around her, function in daily life in hernew surroundings, and pursue her dream of becoming a

nurse. She enrolled in the Adult Education program at Sacramento FoodBank & Family Services the summer of 2009 with “hello” as the onlyEnglish word she could speak. Today, Alba is the only person in her fam-ily who can read, write and speak English fluently.

Alba moved to Sacramento from Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1997 tojoin her husband Benito. For several years, Alba stayed home to raisetheir three children. Alba found it difficult to function day to day notbeing able to understand English. She also dreamt of a career in nurs-ing, but the language barrier kept her out of college. She had takenother English classes, mastering reading and writing in English, butstill could not speak the language.

Alba recalls her difficulty in previous classes. “I didn’t have theopportunity to speak,” she said. She describes large classes in whichshe could only talk once or twice in a given week. In contrast, theEnglish as a Second Language classes Alba takes at SFBFS allow ampleopportunities for her to practice speaking.

“It is very different at [SFBFS],” she said. “You can practice withspeaking more than other schools. I like to go because they are sofriendly. When you need help, they can help you.”

She attends class four times per week, receives one-on-one tutor-ing, and is committed to learning English as a means of improving herlife. While she attends classes, Alba drops her 5-year-old daughter,Soledad, at SFBFS’ PlayCare program, where Soledad is learning hershapes, colors and how to write her name. Her older children, Jermanand Benito Jr., ages 11 and 13, are enrolled in SFBFS’ Youth Academy.Alba says since enrolling, they are doing better in school.

Alba is grateful for her new language skills. “It has changed mylife,” she said. “I know now how to make an appointment for a doc-tor. I can talk with people who speak English.”

Alba plans to enroll in a nursing program at Sacramento CityCollege once she is finished with ESL. “It’s my dream to become anurse,” she said. “What I am learning at [SFBFS] will help me apply tocollege in January.”

Marina Alba:Pursuing her

dreams

Today, Alba is the only person in her family who can read, write

and speak English fluently

“I’ve seen the healing power of the arts trans-form these women one at a time,” Plenert said.“We’ve created a community where the women canthrive. When they walk out of the classroom, theyleave uplifted.”

Food Assistance delivers health

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services revo-lutionized emergency food distribution through theirFood Assistance program a few years ago. SFBFStargets areas of greatest need, partnering with com-munity churches to bring healthy food and nutritioneducation directly to Sacramento neighborhoodsthrough mobile distributions.

“It’s essentially mini farmers markets,” FoodAssistance Director Marshall Graves said. “It solvesthe problem of food deserts. People who can’t getto a grocery store can come here.”

Graves describes food deserts as urban areaswith no grocery stores nearby for those withouttransportation. He says residents resort to consum-ing food they can procure at corner liquor stores,which is often processed food, unhealthy snacksand meager produce that is not very fresh. With themobile food distribution concept, developed bySFBFS President CEO Blake Young, SFBFS bringshealthy food to these areas first.

SFBFS currently operates 10 mobile food distri-butions – seven in North Sacramento and three inCentral Sacramento. SFBFS plans to increase thisnumber and bring more food directly to neighbor-hoods in need. This growth is timely – Gravesreports a 30 percent demand increase in the lasttwo years due to local economic problems.

SFBFS emphasizes healthy food, raising funds tobuy the freshest produce possible and teachingclients how to cook it. Volunteer chefs set up at everymobile distribution to demonstrate very simple anddelicious recipes, giving out samples and recipescards. Recipes focus on the freshfood being distributed that day.

Mobile food sites also featurehealth screenings. Nurses fromthe UC Davis School of Nursingand other volunteer nurses screenclients for health problems. High-risk clients receive advice onimproving health problemslike high blood pressureand high glucose throughproper nutrition.

Graves feels food is the most essential serviceprovided by SFBFS. Without food, the human bodystops functioning. Support beyond simply providingfood to eat, like learning to cook and live healthy,facilitates clients’ journeys toward independence.

Learning gets personal

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ AdultEducation program provides free education toadults. Taught by volunteers, classes offer uniqueopportunities for a personalized learning experience.

Adults receive one-on-one help with reading,writing, math and GED preparation. Oak Park pro-gram manager Carrie Black explains that some stu-dents have a learning disability or changed schoolsfrequently growing up.

“All of this translates into gaps in their educa-tion, which is why they can’t make it in a classroomsetting,” Black said. “We find their gaps, fill them,and then they can become successes.”

Growing numbers of unemployed and dislocatedworkers come to SFBFS seeking job skills training.Classes offer help with job searches, résumé buildingand computer skills. There’s even a specialized courseto help students navigate the CalJOBS website.

Many seniors enjoy computer classes at SFBFS.Some have lost their retirement and need to re-enterthe workforce, but they have never used a computerbefore. Others just want to learn how to send an e-mail to their grandkids.

English as a Second Language classes are alsooffered in the Adult Education program. In contrastto traditional ESL courses, students have ampleopportunity to speak English in the classroom regu-larly. Using language in conversation is the key tointeracting on a social and professional level.

Across subjects, the learning experience is high-ly personal, supportive and non-judgmental. SFBFS’Adult Education program is the only program in thecommunity offering one-on-one tutoring for free. Allclasses allow students to work at their own pace,and even offer additional resources such as tele-

phones, fax machines and copiers.“We are the school of last resort for a lot of

people,” Black said. “Our programs are opento the public, and we don’t charge for

any service. We are a really nice andfriendly location!”

Continued from page 3

Steff Echeverria:Becoming an artist

The Women’s Wisdom Art program at Sacramento Food Bank &Family Services brought Steff Echeverria from the darkness of mentaldisorder into health and stability. Her role in the program has evolvedwith her, and she finally allows herself the title of “artist.”

Echeverria grew up in a family that encouraged intellectual pursuitsover creativity. She first connected with Women’s Wisdom Art in 1996while staying at St. John’s Shelter. She had just come to Sacramento tostart over after losing everything during a down cycle in her bipolar syn-drome. Her interest in art grew when she met her best friend, Jenny.

“She said there aren’t any mistakes,” Echeverria recalled. “It reallywas her that opened the door. I felt like I could do art and didn’t haveto judge myself so harshly.”

She returned to Women’s Wisdom Art as a client again in 2003,making jewelry and fabric arts. “I went as long as I could. Because Iwas at a critical point with my bipolar cycle, I stopped going andended up getting hospitalized.”

As she recovered, Echeverria studied at Sacramento City College,receiving her associate’s degree. She was seeking internships and foundout Women’s Wisdom Art in need of volunteers. She found herself athome with Women’s Wisdom Art once again.

“I feel like it was the perfect place and perfect time for me to getreconnected, and have been there ever since,” she said. “It’s been anamazing growth for me to get back into art.”

Echeverria feels like she has found her niche with Women’s WisdomArt. In addition to her volunteer work, she facilitates a class one day aweek. She enjoys just being with the ladies in the program, describingthem as a community of sisters.

Throughout her teaching and volunteer work, Echeverria continuesher own art. She entered two pieces in the Art Bra show inSeptember, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Her favorite artforms are ceramics and jewelry-making, but she also enjoys painting.

“SFBFS is such a perfect fit,” Echeverria said. “I want to be anexpressive arts therapist, so this is a perfect opportunity to work inthis environment. I feel like I am in a place where I get to do artwork,and that artwork helps me reframe where I am at. It helped me withmy self-esteem and confidence. I finally feel like an artist.” Steff is cur-rently pursuing a degree in Expressive Art Therapy at CSUS.

SFBFS has brought Steff Echeverriafrom the darkness of mental

disorder into health and stability

A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review / SacramentoFoodBank.org / November 18, 2010 54 November 18, 2010 / Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services / A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

PHOTO BY RYAN DONAHUE

PHOTO BY RYAN DONAHUE

Building skills through technology

The Computer Clubhouse at Sacramento FoodBank & Family Services brings exciting technologi-cal experiences to Oak Park junior high and highschool students. Through partnership with Intel,Computer Clubhouse provides students withadvanced technology and sophisticated software, aswell as homework help, team building and life skills.

When students come to the Clubhouse afterschool, the first priority is homework. They can usecomputers and printers, which many students donot have at home. After homework, students havethe opportunity to explore exciting technologicalprojects like computer animation, web develop-ment, sound editing and photography and videog-raphy programs with SFBFS staff and volunteers.

Four-year volunteer Greg Hoyt, who is retiredfrom Intel, recalls one project when students builtrobots. “We had a volunteer expert on robots comein and have the kids build them out of Legos,actually motorize them, and run them by remotecontrol,” he said. These projects give students ahealthy avenue for expression and constructivelearning that they enjoy.

With the guidance and support of volunteersand staff, youth receive quality mentorship,resources, skills and experiences that help shapetheir future. Computer Clubhouse gives students achance to learn and thrive.

Meeting clothingneeds

An exciting shopping experience awaits fami-lies in need at Sacramento Food Bank & FamilyServices’ Clothing program. Even those who cannotafford clothes can browse racks and feel the thrillof finding that special outfit for school or the per-fect suit to nail a job interview. Program managerTasha Bryant displays clothing sorted on racks,providing 450,000 articles of clothing per year toindividuals in need throughout Sacramento.

“We want people to feel like they’re in a store,”Bryant said. “We really want to keep their dignityintact. I personally feel like society makes peoplewho are in need feel like they have done somethingwrong. In the Clothing program we work hard to dis-pel that and just create a shopping experience forpeople that need clothing.”

Many of Bryant’s clients are working peoplewith limited funds. They need business attire for jobinterviews or to maintain employment. She gets

frequent requests for black pants and white shirtsbecause many jobs require a uniform.

The biggest need is for children’s clothing.Parents come in because they cannot afford schooluniforms or sports attire. Recently, Halloween cos-tumes were on display for kids who otherwisewouldn’t have a costume. The focus is on providingitems that allow children to participate in activitiesthey should not miss due to economic status.

There is a separate section with trendy teenclothes because teens are often embarrassed andnot aggressive shoppers. Men’s and women’sclothes are also kept separate. Bryant reports diffi-culty keeping popular items such as big-and-tall formen and plus-sizes for women on the shelves. Allthe clothes are donated and given free to cus-tomers up to once a month.

“We want to meet specific needs because every-body has a different need,” Bryantsaid. We have really fabulous

donors, so we are able to meetsome very specific needs here.”

Women’s art program paintsbrighter futures

Twenty years ago, Sister Laura Ann noticed thatwhen she gave small art projects to homeless,addicted and abused female clients, their-selfesteem increased and they recovered more quickly.Today, the healing power of art is open to womenfrom all walks of life through Sacramento Food Bank& Family Services’ Women’s Wisdom Art program.

Sister Laura Ann started Women’s Wisdom Artin a storefront on 24th Street with funding from TheSisters of Mercy. SFBFS President/CEO BlakeYoung, along with founder Father Madigan, built aclassroom and rescued Women’s Wisdom Art in2000 when Sister Laura Ann lost her funding. Theymade Women’s Wisdom Art part of SFBFS’ familyand expanded services to all women.

The program attracts students with a variety ofbackgrounds. Some have illnesses like fibromyalgiaor chronic fatigue syndrome. Some are stroke orcancer survivors, widows, or caregivers. Othersspent years raising children and are trying to rede-fine themselves. Some just love art!

“This eclectic mix of women is using the powerof art to heal and strengthen their minds, heartsand souls,” Program Manager Helen Plenert said.“The bond they form while creating in the class-room is truly a work of art.”

Plenert believes artistic exploration naturallybrings greater self-knowledge. Opportunities for cre-ativity include drawing, textiles, clay, mixed media,poetry, creative writing and painting with acrylicsand watercolors, with all supplies provided at nocost. Classes are taught by professional artists, andlunch is provided. No experience is needed, and theinformal setting allows artists to set their own pace.

Marina Alba wanted to learn to speak English so she couldunderstand those around her, function in daily life in hernew surroundings, and pursue her dream of becoming a

nurse. She enrolled in the Adult Education program at Sacramento FoodBank & Family Services the summer of 2009 with “hello” as the onlyEnglish word she could speak. Today, Alba is the only person in her fam-ily who can read, write and speak English fluently.

Alba moved to Sacramento from Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1997 tojoin her husband Benito. For several years, Alba stayed home to raisetheir three children. Alba found it difficult to function day to day notbeing able to understand English. She also dreamt of a career in nurs-ing, but the language barrier kept her out of college. She had takenother English classes, mastering reading and writing in English, butstill could not speak the language.

Alba recalls her difficulty in previous classes. “I didn’t have theopportunity to speak,” she said. She describes large classes in whichshe could only talk once or twice in a given week. In contrast, theEnglish as a Second Language classes Alba takes at SFBFS allow ampleopportunities for her to practice speaking.

“It is very different at [SFBFS],” she said. “You can practice withspeaking more than other schools. I like to go because they are sofriendly. When you need help, they can help you.”

She attends class four times per week, receives one-on-one tutor-ing, and is committed to learning English as a means of improving herlife. While she attends classes, Alba drops her 5-year-old daughter,Soledad, at SFBFS’ PlayCare program, where Soledad is learning hershapes, colors and how to write her name. Her older children, Jermanand Benito Jr., ages 11 and 13, are enrolled in SFBFS’ Youth Academy.Alba says since enrolling, they are doing better in school.

Alba is grateful for her new language skills. “It has changed mylife,” she said. “I know now how to make an appointment for a doc-tor. I can talk with people who speak English.”

Alba plans to enroll in a nursing program at Sacramento CityCollege once she is finished with ESL. “It’s my dream to become anurse,” she said. “What I am learning at [SFBFS] will help me apply tocollege in January.”

Marina Alba:Pursuing her

dreams

Today, Alba is the only person in her family who can read, write

and speak English fluently

“I’ve seen the healing power of the arts trans-form these women one at a time,” Plenert said.“We’ve created a community where the women canthrive. When they walk out of the classroom, theyleave uplifted.”

Food Assistance delivers health

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services revo-lutionized emergency food distribution through theirFood Assistance program a few years ago. SFBFStargets areas of greatest need, partnering with com-munity churches to bring healthy food and nutritioneducation directly to Sacramento neighborhoodsthrough mobile distributions.

“It’s essentially mini farmers markets,” FoodAssistance Director Marshall Graves said. “It solvesthe problem of food deserts. People who can’t getto a grocery store can come here.”

Graves describes food deserts as urban areaswith no grocery stores nearby for those withouttransportation. He says residents resort to consum-ing food they can procure at corner liquor stores,which is often processed food, unhealthy snacksand meager produce that is not very fresh. With themobile food distribution concept, developed bySFBFS President CEO Blake Young, SFBFS bringshealthy food to these areas first.

SFBFS currently operates 10 mobile food distri-butions – seven in North Sacramento and three inCentral Sacramento. SFBFS plans to increase thisnumber and bring more food directly to neighbor-hoods in need. This growth is timely – Gravesreports a 30 percent demand increase in the lasttwo years due to local economic problems.

SFBFS emphasizes healthy food, raising funds tobuy the freshest produce possible and teachingclients how to cook it. Volunteer chefs set up at everymobile distribution to demonstrate very simple anddelicious recipes, giving out samples and recipescards. Recipes focus on the freshfood being distributed that day.

Mobile food sites also featurehealth screenings. Nurses fromthe UC Davis School of Nursingand other volunteer nurses screenclients for health problems. High-risk clients receive advice onimproving health problemslike high blood pressureand high glucose throughproper nutrition.

Graves feels food is the most essential serviceprovided by SFBFS. Without food, the human bodystops functioning. Support beyond simply providingfood to eat, like learning to cook and live healthy,facilitates clients’ journeys toward independence.

Learning gets personal

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ AdultEducation program provides free education toadults. Taught by volunteers, classes offer uniqueopportunities for a personalized learning experience.

Adults receive one-on-one help with reading,writing, math and GED preparation. Oak Park pro-gram manager Carrie Black explains that some stu-dents have a learning disability or changed schoolsfrequently growing up.

“All of this translates into gaps in their educa-tion, which is why they can’t make it in a classroomsetting,” Black said. “We find their gaps, fill them,and then they can become successes.”

Growing numbers of unemployed and dislocatedworkers come to SFBFS seeking job skills training.Classes offer help with job searches, résumé buildingand computer skills. There’s even a specialized courseto help students navigate the CalJOBS website.

Many seniors enjoy computer classes at SFBFS.Some have lost their retirement and need to re-enterthe workforce, but they have never used a computerbefore. Others just want to learn how to send an e-mail to their grandkids.

English as a Second Language classes are alsooffered in the Adult Education program. In contrastto traditional ESL courses, students have ampleopportunity to speak English in the classroom regu-larly. Using language in conversation is the key tointeracting on a social and professional level.

Across subjects, the learning experience is high-ly personal, supportive and non-judgmental. SFBFS’Adult Education program is the only program in thecommunity offering one-on-one tutoring for free. Allclasses allow students to work at their own pace,and even offer additional resources such as tele-

phones, fax machines and copiers.“We are the school of last resort for a lot of

people,” Black said. “Our programs are opento the public, and we don’t charge for

any service. We are a really nice andfriendly location!”

Continued from page 3

Steff Echeverria:Becoming an artist

The Women’s Wisdom Art program at Sacramento Food Bank &Family Services brought Steff Echeverria from the darkness of mentaldisorder into health and stability. Her role in the program has evolvedwith her, and she finally allows herself the title of “artist.”

Echeverria grew up in a family that encouraged intellectual pursuitsover creativity. She first connected with Women’s Wisdom Art in 1996while staying at St. John’s Shelter. She had just come to Sacramento tostart over after losing everything during a down cycle in her bipolar syn-drome. Her interest in art grew when she met her best friend, Jenny.

“She said there aren’t any mistakes,” Echeverria recalled. “It reallywas her that opened the door. I felt like I could do art and didn’t haveto judge myself so harshly.”

She returned to Women’s Wisdom Art as a client again in 2003,making jewelry and fabric arts. “I went as long as I could. Because Iwas at a critical point with my bipolar cycle, I stopped going andended up getting hospitalized.”

As she recovered, Echeverria studied at Sacramento City College,receiving her associate’s degree. She was seeking internships and foundout Women’s Wisdom Art in need of volunteers. She found herself athome with Women’s Wisdom Art once again.

“I feel like it was the perfect place and perfect time for me to getreconnected, and have been there ever since,” she said. “It’s been anamazing growth for me to get back into art.”

Echeverria feels like she has found her niche with Women’s WisdomArt. In addition to her volunteer work, she facilitates a class one day aweek. She enjoys just being with the ladies in the program, describingthem as a community of sisters.

Throughout her teaching and volunteer work, Echeverria continuesher own art. She entered two pieces in the Art Bra show inSeptember, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Her favorite artforms are ceramics and jewelry-making, but she also enjoys painting.

“SFBFS is such a perfect fit,” Echeverria said. “I want to be anexpressive arts therapist, so this is a perfect opportunity to work inthis environment. I feel like I am in a place where I get to do artwork,and that artwork helps me reframe where I am at. It helped me withmy self-esteem and confidence. I finally feel like an artist.” Steff is cur-rently pursuing a degree in Expressive Art Therapy at CSUS.

SFBFS has brought Steff Echeverriafrom the darkness of mental

disorder into health and stability

A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review / SacramentoFoodBank.org / November 18, 2010 54 November 18, 2010 / Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services / A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

PHOTO BY RYAN DONAHUE

PHOTO BY RYAN DONAHUE

6 November 18, 2010 / Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services / A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

Thanksgiving Day 2010

Registration: Adult $35Children $20Virtual $20

Location: Sac State Entrance

Time: 10K 8:30am5K 9:00am

Visit www.runtofeedthehungry.com to register

“Your registration fee of $35 will providehealthy and nutritious groceries for 12 families in need. Anyone in Sacramento can make a difference.”- Blake Young, President/CEO

Presented by

Benefiting

Sacramento Food Bank & FamilyServices is committed to assist-ing those in need by alleviating

their immediate pain and problemsand moving them toward self-suffi-ciency and financial independence. Ascommunity needs grow and expand,SFBFS strives to grow and expandservices – even into new buildings!Along with excited staff, volunteersand clients, SFBFS broke ground thisOctober for a new building that willallow for expanded services through anew Education Center, Urban Farmand Recreation Area.

The groundbreaking ceremonymarked the kickoff to construction ofa 22,000-square-foot building, whichnearly doubles SFBFS’ current campus.It is expected to be completed fall2011 and will house existing educa-tion programs in a greater capacity.Across the street from the existingOak Park building, more space meansmore individuals will be served.

SFBFS President/CEO Blake Youngsaid, “We are honored to have theopportunity to expand our capacityto provide quality programs for thecommunity.”

Expansion of the Adult Educationprogram will allow growing numbersof unemployed and dislocated workersto receive job skills training and com-puter education. The Computer

Clubhouse program will offer moreneighborhood teens a chance to jointhe exciting technology-based, after-school program. The Youth Academyprogram will encourage academic suc-cess, character building and socialdevelopment for more youth. Crucialhelp for parents to raise healthy chil-dren will receive a boost with expan-sion of the Mother-Baby program.

More space also means room foradditional programs. A new UrbanFarm will offer fresh produce and pro-vide adult and youth students theopportunity to get their hands in the

dirt while they learn value and enjoy-ment of healthy living. The food pro-duced by the farm will supplementthe Food Assistance program,enabling SFBFS to expand mobile

food distribution efforts, providingfood access and nutrition educationto larger, under-served populations.

Volunteer Steff Echeverria is excit-ed for the new Education Center.“This will allow more people to getthe services they need,” she said. “Byword of mouth, more will come.”

Bobby Poe, SFBFS Adult Educationclient, agrees. “A new building willhelp more people, generate excite-ment, and generate business,” hesaid. “I don’t know where I would bewithout [SFBFS]. We need more ofthis in our community.”

The $3.5 million project will befunded primarily through a gift fromthe Catholic Diocese of Sacramentoand one-time government grants.With the help of building partnersJackson Construction, ComstockJohnson Architects, The HLA Group,and other landscapers, architects andplanners, no individual donor fundswill be used for construction.Continued generous communitydonations will be critical to operate allthe programs, in both the existingand new space.

The new building is just part ofSFBFS’ goal to move people in needtoward self-sufficiency and financialindependence.

Breaking new ground

A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review / SacramentoFoodBank.org / November 18, 2010 7

Expansion of Adult Education will allow growingnumbers of unemployed anddislocated workers to receive

job skills training and computer education

How youcan help

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services countson community support for programs and services.From financial contributions and in-kind support tocommunity involvement in fundraising events, everyonecan be part of making Sacramento a better place.

Every $1 donated to SFBFS translates into $10 ofgoods and services. Great partnerships with local ven-dors and thousands of volunteers enable SFBFS toleverage funds to make a greater impact on the com-munity. Cash donations are used directly to purchaseitems – like healthy groceries, infant formula and com-puters – and provide services to individuals in need.

SFBFS makes financial contributions easy.Donations are accepted online at sacramentofood-bank.org. A donation of $10 can even be madesecurely by texting “SACFOOD” to 20222. Text dona-tions will be conveniently added to your mobile phonebill or deducted from your prepaid balance.*

SFBFS also accepts in-kind donations. Gently usedclothing, school materials and baby supplies can bedropped off at 3333 Third Ave. Businesses and neigh-borhoods can also lead a donation drive by requestinga donation barrel for food, clothing or toy drives.

The gift of time provides critical support. SFBFSrelies on thousands of volunteers each year to helpdeliver services, as well as participants signing up forexciting fundraising events. Simply walking or running inthe annual Run to Feed the Hungry or scavenging inRace for the Rock has a huge impact on the communitythrough raised funds and increased awareness. Eventsare great ways to support SFBFS while having fun.

Donors can feel confident in supporting uniqueand innovative services that evolve to meet changingcommunity needs. Programs run parallel to each other,working together toward the common goal of preparingindividuals for greater self-sufficiency. President/CEOBlake Young along with SFBFS’ Board of Directorsdeveloped a long-term strategic plan to improve thecommunity, setting aside funds in good economictimes to support their vision of growth.

This vision comes together now, at a time when theneed is greatest. Because these services receive little,if any government funding, they are sustainable in atough economy. Nearly 60 percent of all funding isreceived from private donors.

Without community support, SFBFS would not beable to deliver the diverse programs and services thatimprove lives every day in the community ofSacramento.

A special advertising supplement to the Sacramento News & Review

Every year, teams of two race throughSacramento on bike, scooter, skateboard,rollerblade and foot for a chance to win dia-

monds in Race for the Ring. Race for the Ring is anexciting text message-based scavenger hunt hostedby Rogers Jewelry, Co. and benefits SFBFS.

“We’ve been in business in Sacramento for nearly70 years,” Rogers Marketing Director Calvin Curtinsaid. “When you are a part of a community that long,we feel like we owe it to the community to give backin some way. People are struggling right now – a lotof people who never thought they would be in a situ-ation that they would need help are needing it.”

Curtin wanted to create something fun and inter-active getting people out of the house to have agreat time while doing something good for the com-munity. He was approached by a Boston-based com-pany called SCVNGR that was experimenting withgeo-based, real-time gaming. They came up with anidea for a text message-based scavenger hunt, andRace for the Ring was born.

Rogers partnered with SFBFS so the race wouldsupport the community. “There are lots of good char-ities in Sacramento,” Curtin said. “The reason wechose [SFBFS] is their experience with Run to Feedthe Hungry – they had the experience of doing alarge event. Also because they turn every dollar weraise into $10 of goods and services and return themright back to Sacramento.”

The third annual Race for the Ring will be heldMay 21, 2011 to coincide with Bike Month. The $40team registration fee includes two race shirts,entrance to the after-party and lunch, with 100 per-cent of proceeds benefiting programs at SFBFS.Curtin expects the event to be bigger than last yearand promises a prize pool just as big – over $35,000worth of jewelry. Last year the grand prize was aHearts on Fire® diamond ring. Other prizes includeddiamond earrings, diamond necklaces, rings andwatches. City Bicycle Works even donated two beachcruiser bicycles.

Mayor Kevin Johnson traditionally sends the firsttext message. Each team receives a different chal-lenge question sent via text message to their cellphone and 2,000 participants scatter to differentlocations. The team that answers the most questionscorrectly and quickly scores enough points, wins thegrand prize.

According to Kelly Siefkin of SFBFS, “The very bestpart is, while participants will have fun and win amaz-ing prizes, we’re raising awareness about programsand services at SFBFS.”

“I’m hoping it will grow year by year,” Curtin said.“I would like to see it be an ongoing event as long aseverybody’s having fun and as long as we can raisemoney for [SFBFS]. It’s one of the most fun thingsthat I personally am involved with all year long.”

Registration information can be found online atraceforthering.com.

Race for the Ring supports SFBFS

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Messaging & Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the “Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services” by the Mobile Giving Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t. Messaging and Data Rules May Apply. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP to short code 20222; Reply HELP to 20222 for help.