Each week we rely on dozens of volunteers to serve hundreds of people–over 850 folks this last Friday.  Here is how one of our volunteers, Virgina, described the day:

The first Friday in August was hot, and we served over 850 people who lined up to collect quite a summer bounty of produce and staples.  Our clients took home garlic, potatoes, red onions, green beans, corn on the cob, mushrooms, melon, zucchini, salad greens, cabbage, strawberries, enormous watermelons, granola bars, bags of Chinese noodles, cans of beans, peaches, pears, apples and a lot of loaves of sliced white bread.

We had three different groups who traveled to San Francisco to volunteer with us. Some are studying how to run food pantries in their own communities.  Others, particularly high-school students and church groups, are just eager to lend a hand. We talk with them, train them, answer their questions, feed them lunch—and put them to work!

The teenagers are a blessing. Often they’re recruited to lift the heavy crates and the overflowing bags of the elderly. The Food Pantry has to run like a well-oiled machine to keep it running at all, and it takes a whole lot of hands to do what needs to be done—as well as over $900 to supplement the food we receive. We’re so grateful for your contributions of money and time: Thanks to all the cogs in the big machine for making this work so well!

Scores of volunteers worked for hours arranging hundreds of pounds of fresh produce delivered by the San Francisco Food Bank.  A record 907 individuals came through the pantry.  Each received a cornucopia of summer produce, including ears of corn, watermelon, tomatoes, fresh greens, fettuccini, beans and rice.  A huge thank you to all of our volunteers for their hard work!

One of our volunteers, Viginia Giblin, wrote this great piece about Friday’s pantry:

A hot day in SF, and  even more so on Potrero Hill where the sun tends to shine. But the heat doesn’t keep the people from lining up early for entry into the The Food Pantry. Today we had quite a bit of fresh food, which is always a treat. I’ll list it here:
Fresh small yellow onions, yellow potatoes, fresh green onions with a large white onion bulb at the end.  Huge zucchinis – clearly for stuffing, maybe for grating.  Carrots, 2.5 pound bags of spinach leaves, green cabbage in a variety of sizes from small to large to ‘how the heck can this be carried home on a bus’, watermelons, mango. Red ripe tomatoes, packaged strawberries, one-pound bags of pretzels, a choice of beans–black, kidney, or chili One loaf of bread per customer, some plums that evolved into a backstock of apples as the supply ran out, some odd stuffed sausage-cheese thing, and some plastic bags of cubed green melon that must have been cut up by the good folks volunteering at the Food Bank.
 
We served 842 people, calling upon at least 53 volunteers– from those that started unloading trucks at 8AM to those who sweep up and lock up after 4PM, making it look like the food fairies from heaven were never ever there. But the once hungry now sleep better in their beds, knowing there are some groceries in the house.
 
Of course, it’s hard to watch the food supply dwindle by 3PM. Seemed like the people just kept coming, and there was less and less to distribute. By 3:30, we were handing out some cans of tuna, and bottled iced tea, and on-the-go items from Trader Joe’s to accompany the last of the tomatoes and the canned beans. The numbers keep growing. Yes, the same faces are there week after week after week, but we are seeing new faces, new people, from all walks and lines of work. Thanks be to God when there is something to give them.
 
A super nice, well-tanned gentleman was standing in the doorway as we opened. Visiting from the Peninsula, he wanted to know if he could donate food from his garden. Wow! Oh to be a part of his garden!. His generosity of spirit is touching. But I don’t think he can feed 800 people. Unless he’s got the fishes and loaves thing going on. And, hey, he might.

And that means lots of fresh, local produce! At tomorrow’s pantry at St. Gregory’s we’ll be distributing fresh ears of corn, juicy watermelon, strawberries from the nearby Central Valley and plums.  We also have chicken sausage, tuna, chili beans and rice.

If you need food, as so many do during these difficult economic times, come on down or call 211 in San Francisco to find a pantry near you.  If you can help others, click on our donate button and support our efforts.

Today we served 600 cans of beans, sausages and hot dogs to folks at our Potrero Hill pantry.  People also received fresh apples, oranges, onions and potatoes. 

As the economy fails to show signs of improvement, San Francisco continues to see an increased demand for food.  Many in need are newly unemployed and are facing food insecurity for the first time in their lives.  If you,  or someone you know is in need, please call 211 for a food pantry in your area.  Outside of San Francisco, please call your local food bank, United Way or faith based congregations for local resources.

If you are able to help others during this difficult time, click on our DONATE button or give to your local food bank.

On May 9th, Bay Area residents, with the help of their mail carriers, donated over 900,000 pounds of non-perishable food to support those in need.  The United States Post Office sponsored this massive food drive to benefit local food banks.  On the recent Saturday, mail carriers not only delivered mail, but they picked up food items from residents.  The post office exceeded their goal by over 150,000 pounds! Way to go to the post office and all the folks generously donating!

or if someone you know needs food and you’re in San Francisco,  please call 211 and you’ll be directed to a pantry nearby. 

Outside of San Francisco, contact your local food bank or United Way for information.

The demand for food in San Francisco continues to rise.  The Food Pantry has served over 800 people the last 2 weeks.  We must give a special thanks to our volunteers for running the pantry remarkably efficiently and with true grace under fire.  A special thanks to Michael for heading up the team every Friday–without him we would never be able to serve this many hungry folks.

Food insecurity and hunger are a national problem.  Check out this article about the economy: http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090416/us_time/08599189152700