Highlight on Hunger

August 31, 2023

Highlight on Hunger

Dear CRC,

As a reminder, we are using July, August and September to highlight CRC's three primary program areas: Homelessness, Hunger and Domestic Violence. Last month, we focused on Homelessness, and this month, we are looking at Hunger. Instead of a normal introduction from me, I've asked our Food and Nutrition Manager, Sloan Chau to share a bit of his heart towards our clients with us.

If I could share anything, it is the general rule in the helping profession; "don't forget the human." On extremely busy or hectic days, it is easy to see our participants as another number to get through, but they are still a fellow human at the end of the day.

When we address our relationship with hunger, we need to remember that it's more complex than an empty stomach. We should strive to be as actively empathetic as we can, not only to our participants, but to ourselves as well. Our pantry does not only provide mere sustenance but provides a sense of agency and comfort that is a privilege too easy to overlook and be taken for granted in our own lives.

Warmly,

Sara Rosenbaum, CVA

CRC Volunteer Manager

Let's Learn Together

The Hard Facts

CRC/Food Program Terms Defined

FOOD AND NUTRITION CENTER (FNC): This is our term for the CRC Food Pantry. It communicates our desire to be more than just a place to hand out food, but rather to empower choice while also encouraging healthy choices.

LEADS: The term for volunteers who provide leadership for an FNC team, Monday-Friday. They communicate, schedule, train, and support. Current leads are: Anne Fujioka, Gayle Patterson, David Hall, Duke Skaff, James Zemel, Sue Dowd, Doug and Laura Green, Apple Phillips, and Lori Dilley.

CLIENT CHOICE: Clients are given "points" based on household size and need, and are able to "shop" for items they want. The FNC assigns a higher point value to food with lower nutritional value, but we still allow the client to choose. If a parent wants to bake a boxed cake mix for their child or buy a sugary cereal, we want them to have that option, just as we have that option.

FIRST LIGHT: This is our first program in the morning, M-F. It provides a light, take-away meal for those in the community who may be experiencing homelessness and those who have limited access to cooking facilities. This is a no-strings-attached food program and allows people to progress at their own pace. We want them to move forward and to access other services, but we don't force that.

WEEKLY FNC PROGRAM (1 x month): This supplemental resource is available to individuals and families participating in CRC's case management programs.

EMERGENCY FOOD (2 x month): This supplemental food resource is available to individuals and families experiencing a food emergency.

COMMODITIES: CRC is a designated site for the USDA Commodities program that provides individuals and families with basic food items. This is a set menu that changes every month and includes canned food and occasionally frozen and/or fresh items.

UNDUPLICATED SHOPPERS: Shoppers can often access the FNC more than once a month. CRC keeps track of each individual who visits as well as the total number of visits per month.

FRESH RESCUE: CRC partners with local grocery stores to receive donated fresh, perishable and frozen food items. The items may be considered too close to the "best by date" for store customers but are still good. This provides nutritious food for our clients and also keeps items out of the landfill. Some examples of stores we receive items from are: Sprouts, Lazy Acres, Trader Joes, Vons, Target.

FOOD PARTNERS: CRC partners with Produce Good, an organization that gleans leftover food from local farmers and donates it to Food Pantries and other non-profits. We receive donated produce twice a month from this program and it is supported by volunteer Carol Brown. We also receive fresh produce directly from Coastal Roots Farm.

How CRC is Addressing Hunger

CRC provides:

Case Management: Individualized support to assist participants toward security and stability.
FNC Encinitas Access: *There were 11,958 visits to the FNC in 2022.
Expanded Food Pantry Access: We have added a small food pantry of non-perishable food to our Carlsbad office location and also at One Safe Place, the North County Family Justice Center. We are also currently looking at ways to expand access to our Encinitas Food Pantry to evenings or weekends (future) as well as the possibility of using a food truck to deliver food to those unable to get to our locations.
Nutrition: *More than 612,000 pounds of rescued, perishable food was distributed in 2022.
Health and Well-Being Programs: Food assistance, CalFresh* and benefit enrollment.
First Light Program: Allows those experiencing homelessness to grab a quick and healthy meal (pre-packaged) with fruit and toiletries (when available). This is volunteer run and is available M-F 9-10:30 am.
Commodities: CRC is a USDA Commodities distribution site for North Coastal County.

*Information taken from the 2022 Annual Report. Click below to read the entire report, filled with great information on the work that CRC does.

2022 Annual Report

What You Can Do

Food and Personal Care Drives

The CRC FNC is currently in need of personal care items. For the most current list, you can check our website page here.

Donate Money

Your monetary donation has greater impact as we can access discounted food from the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego. Any donation you give makes you a valuable partner in our work! You can donate here.

Volunteer

CRC offers deep cleaning opportunities for groups of 10-20 people at our FNC. This is a great way to help us provide the best experience for those coming to us to shop! You can inquire more here.

Advocate

Follow CRC on social media and share with your friends! And, on September 15th, you can wear orange for Hunger Action Day! Take a photo, share some stats that you learned in this newsletter, and help make a difference. Be sure to email your photo to us so we can share as well.

Volunteer News

It's All Connected

This week I had the privilege of speaking with a new volunteer, who more than a decade ago was a young girl receiving services at the CRC Food Pantry with her mom. Because of that access to food stability as a child, she now wants to give back herself.

When I asked her how she and her family found out about the FNC, she confirmed what I already know about our stores. She said "We found out from Robert (Encinitas store manager) at the Resale Store actually. When he learned that we were in a challenging season, he directed us to the services at the Food Pantry and to a case worker. I am also currently applying for post-graduate studies, and I credit the staff at the Resale Store partially for that. They let me sit in the book area of the store and read, and provided affordable books to me when we couldn't pay much. It stoked a love for reading but also their encouragement made me believe that anything is possible."

This volunteer's story serves an important reminder to ALL of our volunteers - you each play an integral role in the work that we do and make a difference. Even though our resale stores may feel removed from our front-line mission work, they are often the first place someone learns about the CRC. The stores and the staff and volunteers who work in them are important mission and program ambassadors. Thank you!

CRC Food and Nutrition Center Lead Meeting

FNC Leads met with Food and Nutrition Manager Sloan Chau and Chief Program Officer Rebecca Nussbaum to discuss best practices and roadblocks. The staff also shared updates on policies and CRC's Capital Campaign.

Youth Ambassador Board

CRC has launched a volunteer Youth Advisory Board for the 23-24 school year. The high school students, selected through an application process, will receive Ambassador Training and then will be providing valuable feedback throughout the year to our fundraising, communications and volunteer recruitment strategies.

CRC values youth and their impact in the world and we are excited to see what this year has in store for this motivated group!

Pictured from left: Niya Partridge, Ben Rosenbaum, Cole Wells, Vivian Maynes, Jocelyn Munden, Elke Farrow, Kacy Hamilton, Mattea Day

Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to CRC's Volunteer of the Month: Saundra Moton!

Says nominating staff person Brianna DuPlessis (CRC HR Coordinator): "Saundra has been on the CRC Board of Directors since July 2021 and just stepped into the board secretary role. She has been involved in bringing some key staff to CRC and has been very active in recommending new board members to the governance committee.

For my part, she's spent HOURS on the phone/emailing back and forth with me in the last few months. We had a number of issues that came up back-to-back this summer and she's guided me through each one. She's helped me draft emails, talked me through sensitive HR processes and recommended policy changes."

A lot of Saundra's work is done behind the scenes, but we are so grateful for all of her support to CRC's staff and participants. Thank you!

Get Involved

Holiday Baskets is Coming...

If you are starting to think about the Holidays and how you can give back, so are we! Please note that Holiday Baskets planning is underway and we will start the scheduling process beginning in October. We will communicate any donation or fundraising needs beginning in September. Keep an eye out!

Learn More from the CRC Newsletter!

The volunteer newsletter primarily highlights the work that our volunteers are doing and provides training and updates that apply to the volunteering experience. The CRC newsletter focuses on client stories, CRC in the news, mission updates, and fundraising opportunities. If you would like to receive that newsletter, you can sign up for it here.

You can also check out the most current newsletter, full of great information, below!

August CRC Newsletter

What's Your Story?

If you have a good story of volunteering, please share with me at volunteer@crcncc.org. I can include those stories in future newsletters as an encouragement to our team.

Let Us Know

If you know of anyone in need of food, housing or shelter, please pass along this link to information on how we can help: Get H elp - Community Resource Center (crcncc.org)

Community Resource Center

(760) 230-6501| info@crcncc.org | CRCNCC.org