Robyn Slakey, a retired high school art teacher, has been walking and running in Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) annual Run to Feed the Hungry for the past 15 years. Every year, Robyn and her family plan their Thanksgiving Day around Run to Feed the Hungry. “It is a fun, family event that supports Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and the community,” Robyn said, “I really think it’s amazing how well SFBFS is the custodian of their money. They’re very good about what they do

Robyn Slakey had no plans to win any kind of contest when she posed in her favorite Run to Feed the Hungry (RTFTH) shirt after a long hike. But Robyn’s fun photo and awesome location shot created a buzz and won her entry into last year’s Run to Feed the Hungry. The t-shirt contest is back again this year and you have a chance to win your way into the 19th annual Run to Feed the Hungry. Visit Run to Feed the Hungry’s Facebook page to submit a photo for this year’s contest.

Twice a year, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) host a volunteer appreciation event in recognition of SFBFS’ long time volunteers. For SFBFS’ fall 2012 Halloween-themed volunteer appreciation, a whimsical haunted house scene graced the front of five hundred postcard invitations and grabbed the attention of SFBFS volunteers and staff. The postcard design featured a haunted manor set against a purple and orange evening sky. Pumpkins are scattered throughout the foreground along with

Brain Trieu, a senior at Jesuit High School, needed 50 hours of community service in order to graduate. After reviewing a list of service organizations where he could fulfill his hours, Brian chose Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). During the summer Brian could be found assisting SFBFS’ staff members in almost every program. By the end of the summer Brian had accumulated over 145 volunteer hours with SFBFS, well above his 50 hour requirement.

Candace Chwierut came home one night after a food distribution empowered with a newfound skill, shuffling. Busting out a groove to the hit summer anthem, ‘Party Rock,’ Candace and other volunteers began an impromptu dance party that had everyone shuffling up and down the distribution line, including clients and their families. "Everyone was laughing and smiling and it created such a fun and entertaining atmosphere during the distribution," Candace said. "It feels good to be able to connect and

In Sacramento County, 80,860 individuals are food insecure, according to a 2012 report from the Sacramento Hunger Coalition. This means that 17. 7% of Sacramentans do not have access to fresh and healthy food. At Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services about 16,000 individuals receive emergency assistance through Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) Food program every month. Through farmers’ market style food distributions, families take home a five day supply of groceries, including

When Hallie Vae Wallace, a Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) Senior program volunteer, went down the list of interests of her newly assigned senior companion, she began to worry that they would not have anything in common. “She likes the Home Shopping Network which I cannot say that I do,” Hallie said, “Yet when I called her that first time there was an instant connection. I told her I had a feeling we were going to be real good friends.”

As a mother and grandmother, Rosemary Guzman enjoys watching children learn, adapt and grow in healthy and caring environments. "I love children, so I decided to dedicate myself to them," Rosemary said. As a volunteer for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) Youth Education program, Rosemary provides an educational and nurturing environment to some of SFBFS’ smallest clients. Over the past three years, Rosemary acquired special bonds with the children in the program.

Since its inception, The Sacramento Press, an online community newspaper, has been a strong supporter and partner of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). From creating promotional materials and social media campaigns to coordinating and assisting with SFBFS’ fundraisers, The Sacramento Press has enthusiastically and generously donated their time, energy, talent and skills. “The Sacramento Press is a wonderful partner with SFBFS. Their model of sharing information allows SFBFS to high

For ten years, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA), a membership based organization for Sacramento area trial attorneys, has sponsored an annual Spring Fling benefitting Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). Every year, the Spring Fling has included a reception and silent auction with items donated by their members and friends of the organization. For the first time ever, CCTLA recruited sixteen sponsors this year to contribute $1,000 each to SFBFS.

Volunteers at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) provide a wide variety of services, from sorting clothing and bagging food, to mentoring students and tutoring adults. SFBFS volunteers are vital not only to daily operations, but also become part of SFBFS’ family. SFBFS administrative volunteers work alongside program managers and staff assisting in filing, data entry, answering phones and, at times, being the first friendly face or voice that a client encounters.

For the first time in Volunteer Spotlight history we will be featuring two wonderful volunteers who have shown commitment and passion towards their roles as homework mentors and role models to the children enrolled in the After School Academy section of SFBFS’ Youth Education program. But each of these volunteers has contributed in more ways than just time. Both of the volunteers featured this month have gone above and beyond their roles by helping to develop and expand the Youth Education progr

Yolo County CASA's graduating class of "CASA Grande" were officially sworn in at the Woodland courthouse as CASAs, Court Appointed Special Advocates. We are from all walks of life- mothers, fathers, grandparents, teachers and students-we filled the benches of Judge Steven Basha's Courtroom, in Department 5. It was official as we took an oath that required that we advocate for the best interest of a child in a juvenile court dependency case.