With its shelves “nearly bare,” the Pacific Pantry’s parent organizations are kicking off a fundraising campaign this month to raise $25,000.

The Community Food Council and Family Resource Center of the Redwoods are looking to Del Norte County residents for help now that their Community Development Block Grant subrecipient contract with the city has ended.

The Food Council entered into the agreement with Crescent City about two years ago, using about $150,000 in CDBG dollars to run a food bank. Pacific Pantry opened its doors in April 2018, giving clients an opportunity to browse among a plethora of healthy choices:

Pacific Pantry with full shelves. Photo: Courtesy of the Community Food Council

 

Pacific Food Pantry Shelves Nearly Bare for the Holidays

Community Development Block Grant funding ended for Del Norte’s Only Choice Food Pantry

 

Pacific Pantry’s shelves are nearly bare for the holidays as City of Crescent City Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding ended last month. In order to ensure Pantry doors remain open to Del Norte’s many food insecure individuals and families for the holidays and beyond, the Family Resource Center of the Redwoods (FRC) and Del Norte and Tribal Lands Community Food Council (DNATL CFC) are launching a multifaceted fundraising campaign to raise $25,000 by the close of 2019. 

 

The Pacific Pantry, located at the FRC and administered by the DNATL CFC, was funded with City CDBG money to open in April of 2018. Since that time the Pantry has logged 9,167 household visits, translating to about a week of food each for 23,075 people. Pacific Pantry is the only choice Pantry in the county: a model that allows patrons to shop for the foods they want, creates a dignified experience, allows for cultural and dietary food choices, and minimizes food waste. Pacific Pantry has promoted the well-being of clients, community, and environment by sourcing local, fresh, and organic food whenever possible including Rumiano’s cheese and butter, Alexandre Kids eggs and milk, Woodhaven ground beef, Crystal milk,  and produce grown in the Taa-‘at-dvn Chee-ne’ Tetlh-tvm’ community food forest and at Ocean Air Farms. 

 

The DNATL CFC and FRC are asking for the support of the community in keeping shelves stocked and the doors open at Pacific Pantry. Please consider offering a helping hand in one or more of the following ways:

 

• Use Amazon Smile (www.smile.amazon.com) for all of your normal and holiday Amazon shopping. Select the Family Resource Center of the Redwoods as your charitable organization and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to FRC for Pantry support. 

• Purchase hand-picked, fresh Port Orford, OR cranberries or hand-processed cranberry sauce from the DNATL CFC starting November 18th. Call CFC directly, or keep an eye out for an update about selling cranberries and sauce at Wild Rivers Market and in front of Safeway. 

• Support the Empty Bowls fundraising dinner on Saturday, Dec 14th.  Attendees purchase a handmade ceramic bowl to sample a variety of homemade soups. DNATL CFC is soliciting donations of ceramic bowls, homemade soups, raffle items (including services), and volunteers for this fundraiser. 

• Donate! Visit the Pacific Pantry Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pacpantry/), website (https://www.dnatlfood.com/), or go directly to our Mightycause crowdfunding campaign to make a monetary donation, https://www.mightycause.com/story/Pacific-Pantry. DNATL CFC is also happy to accept food donations directly or through their partnership with the Del Norte County Library’s upcoming Food for Fines.  

 

For further questions and information, please contact Andrea Lanctot, Food Program Coordinator, DNATL Community Food Council, alanctot@frcredwoods.org. 707-464-0955 ext. 2109

SHARE →