Food for People

Humboldt county in Northern California has developed a program that helps people who are at risk of hunger and food insecurity. Their goal is to “provide individuals and households with the emergency and supplemental food they need, while working to address the root causes of hunger in our county”. Food for People is the local food bank having events every Wednesday and Friday providing food for 1000 families each month. This organization also has an Emergency Food Pantry Network with 17 pantries, 3 congregate meal programs feeding another 9,000 to 10,000 people each month. Along with the exceptional meal programs this association offers, low income seniors over the age of 60 receive bags of groceries serving about 600 seniors a month. For citizens who are disabled or ill, Food for People deliver groceries to them and are 100% powered by donations from the community. This locally driven program shows the true potential of community based organizations. Low income citizens far and wide now have a source of food, one of the most basic and necessary components of life.

Along with provisions of food for the needy, Food for People also provides education and outreach programs designed to help low income households make smart choices for adequate nutrition. Recipes, cooking classes, nutrition seminars and kitchen parties all help Food for People and the surrounding community relate and learn about nutrition together. Such community based programs help the people in so many different ways. Physically buy having a meal and filling their stomachs, emotionally from not having to worry about another night not eating, and socially by creating a healthy community with people who love each other.

Food, along with water, is something that everyone has a right to enjoy. Community outreach programs like Food for People help the community stay healthy and stay together. When areas have tightly wound programs and groups, people are more resilient to change and negative scenarios aren’t as bad as they would be without these programs. Personally, I feel like we need localized food banks in every continent, country, state, county, town, community and neighborhood. Whether this bank is in the form of outreach programs like Food for People, or simply a free meal from a friend or business each week, programs like these need to be implemented to help enrich the lives of the wealthy, and the needy.

If you would like to become a part of Food for People or help by donating, you can do so by calling direct at (707) 445-3166 or online at http://www.foodforpeople.org/Donate.html