Valley View Community Food Bank: Nourishing Our Community, Ending Hunger

Valley View Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food assistance to those in need within our community. We believe that everyone deserves access to nutritious and affordable food, and we are committed to working towards a hunger-free Valley View.

How We Help

Our food bank provides a variety of services to meet the needs of our community, including:

• Emergency Food Assistance: We distribute food boxes to individuals and families who are facing food insecurity. In 2021, we distributed over 100,000 pounds of food to over 5,000 households.
• Senior Food Program: We provide monthly food boxes to seniors who are at risk of hunger. In 2021, we served over 300 seniors through this program.
• Children's Food Program: We provide food assistance to children who are facing food insecurity. In 2021, we served over 1,000 children through this program.
• Community Education: We offer nutrition education classes and cooking demonstrations to help our community make healthy choices. In 2021, we reached over 2,000 people through our education programs.

Why Food Matters

Hunger is a serious problem in our community. According to Feeding America, over 100,000 people in our county are food insecure, including over 25,000 children. Food insecurity is linked to a number of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. It can also lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Hunger is not just a problem for the individual. It is a problem for our entire community. When people are hungry, they are less likely to be productive at work or school. They are also more likely to be sick, which can put a strain on our healthcare system.

How You Can Help

There are many ways you can help the Valley View Community Food Bank in our fight against hunger. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

1. Donate Food: We accept donations of non-perishable food items at our food bank and at various drop-off locations throughout the community.
2. Donate Money: Your financial donation will help us purchase food and supplies for our food bank.
3. Volunteer Your Time: We rely on the help of volunteers to sort and distribute food, teach nutrition classes, and more.
4. Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness about the problem of hunger in our community. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors about the Valley View Community Food Bank.

Stories of Hope

We are grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. Here are a few stories of hope from people who have been helped by the Valley View Community Food Bank:

• Maria is a single mother of two young children. She lost her job during the pandemic and was struggling to make ends meet. She came to the food bank for help and was able to get food boxes for her family. "The food bank has been a lifesaver for me," she said. "I don't know what I would do without it."
• John is a senior citizen who lives on a fixed income. He has difficulty getting around and was struggling to buy groceries. He came to the food bank for help and was able to get monthly food boxes. "The food bank has made a big difference in my life," he said. "I am so grateful for their help."
• Sarah is a young girl who lives in a low-income family. She was often hungry before school and had difficulty concentrating in class. She started attending the food bank's after-school program, where she gets a free meal and snack. "The food bank has helped me so much," she said. "I am not hungry anymore and I am doing better in school."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common mistakes to avoid when donating to a food bank. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Don't donate expired food. Food banks cannot distribute expired food due to safety concerns.
• Don't donate food that is not nutritious. Food banks are looking for healthy, non-perishable food items.
• Don't donate food that is in damaged packaging. Food banks cannot distribute food that is in damaged packaging due to safety concerns.

Call to Action

We need your help to continue our fight against hunger in Valley View. Please consider donating food, money, or your time to the Valley View Community Food Bank. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.