Food

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services provides a 5 day supply of emergency groceries to families in need, three days per week. In an effort to better move families toward self-sufficiency, grocery items such as dairy, meat, vegetables and fruit are distributed instead of hot meals. Over 10,000 individuals receive an abundance of fresh groceries every month. Our quality groceries come from a variety of sources including donations from local grocery stores, organic farmers and the community.

In order for our clients feel empowered to use the goods they receive, food is distributed in a respectful and dignified manner. Set up like an open-air, farmers' market, individuals and families are invited to see the produce, enjoy samples, take suggested recipe, gather health and nutrition resources and ask questions about the items they are receiving. As with all of our programs, all goods and services are provided at no cost.

In an effort to combat many of the health ailments facing families in our community, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services partners with agencies to provide health screenings such as blood pressure, blood glucose tests and cholesterol screenings. Agencies also distribute information about managing diabetes and combating obesity.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services will offer gardening and cooking classes at our new Demonstration Garden starting in Spring 2012. SFBFS clients will learn how to harvest and prepare the vegetables they cultivate. The Demonstration Garden will include a greenhouse, outdoor kitchen, composting and vermicomposting bins, large production beds along with other demonstration areas. The new Demonstration Garden will initially serve as a resource and teaching tool for SFBFS' clients, but will grow with time to serve more families in the community. Each week, construction photos of the Demonstration Garden are updated. Click here to watch the garden grow.

• If you are interested in leading a donation drive for the Food program or Demonstration Garden, check out the wishlist of most needed items at the bottom of the Donation Drive page.
• If you are interested in volunteering for the Food program, including volunteering on the Demonstration Garden, click here for information on volunteering.

Check out this great video featuring the Food program.

ELIGIBILITY
* Sacramento residents in need of emergency food may receive groceries
   once per calendar month at any one of SFBFS' food distribution.
* Please bring proof of residency and identification for each member of the
   household
* USDA commodities served for zip codes: 95815, 95817, 95818, 95820,
   95833, 95834, 95835, 95836, 95837, 95838