Community Food Drive Project in Lake County
Times of uncertainty and crisis can give birth to whole new ways of collaboration and service. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is just the most recent crisis to hit Lake County. Multiple rounds of devastating wildfires and massive power shut-offs have tested even the most hardy residents. But, as Mr. Rogers’ mother famously said, “In any disaster, look for the helpers.” And these helpers have arisen in force in Lake County.
North Coast Opportunities (NCO) is the community action agency for Lake and Mendocino counties, as well as parts of Humboldt, Sonoma, Del Norte and Solano counties. NCO has been working for years to help residents of Lake County rebuild from the fires. When this current public health crisis hit, NCO was already well invested in reaching vulnerable populations. Robyn Bera, Director of Community Projects in Lake County, immediately put out the word that NCO was there to help. Utilizing their contacts through New Digs, a Housing First program, as well as other local NCO projects, they quickly learned that food access was a major concern.
This issue has become alarmingly apparent across Lake County and beyond. Many area children normally eat multiple meals at school, so the districts have stepped up to fill that void with take-home meals. Senior citizens can often access food through their senior centers and Meals on Wheels, but that leaves many, many people to fall through the cracks. Financially vulnerable, those without transportation, and undocumented locals were seeing their food supplies dip dangerously low. Robyn and her coworkers heard this need loud and clear and jumped into action. “Our aim was to bring organizations together with similar goals and the right resources to bring this idea to fruition,” says Robyn. “Soon enough we had a virtual table of exceptional partners ready to brainstorm and contribute to the project.” Lake County is no stranger to creative collaborations to address a crisis, and so the Community Food Drive Project (CFDP) was born.
This effort to deliver food to the homes of local residents in need brought together an amazing group of partners: Hope Rising Lake County, Lake County Office of Education, Lake County Tribal Health, Partnership Health Plan, Lake County Department of Social Services, and Hope Crisis Response Network—all pitched in to make this happen. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, with many years of experience with food distribution and food pantries, quickly offered their expertise with food ordering, transportation, and packing. And some wonderful unforeseen heroes stepped up. Lake Transit Authority offered to support food delivery. “Bus drivers have a strong connection and commitment to the residents of Lake County, and we’ve been looking for ways to support the needs of the community in this crisis,” says Lake Transit’s executive director, Lisa Davey-Bates. The essential drivers were able to keep up their hours while helping provide needed nourishment to their neighbors.
It inspires the heart to see multiple agencies pull together to meet a community need. This collaboration has successfully provided food and nourishment to many Lake County residents. The CFDP currently delivers groceries to over 50 households around the lake each week and is considering adding a second delivery day to meet the increasing demand.
Any resident may call the Community Food Drive Project Hotline at (707) 993-4644. Priority will be given to those who are symptomatic, medically vulnerable, without transportation, or with lost wages. NCO is actively engaged in other ways to support the community including coordinating food deliveries with senior centers, providing childcare for essential workers, funding respite care, volunteer coordination, and more. Community Food Drive Project requires ongoing financial support, so consider contributing if you are able.
For more information, to volunteer, or to donate contact Robyn Bera at 707-278-8696
Photo courtesy of NCO.
