Raley's awards funding in Food for Families infrastructure grant program

Raley’s has awarded $340,241 in grant funding via its new Food for Families infrastructure grant program.

Raley’s made the grant funding available through its 12 existing Food for Families food bank partners, as well as their partner agencies that represent more than 2,400 partner agencies in total, according to a news release.

“We are grateful for our loyal customers and their Food for Families contributions that allow us to provide food to organizations serving those in need, every day through our point-of-sale donations,” said Carol Barsotti, board member of Raley’s Food For Families. “These grants really expand the impact of those food donations by ensuring our partners have the infrastructure to safely and effectively distribute that food.”

The inaugural round of Food for Families grants was awarded to provide for critical infrastructure needs, including the following examples of how the funding will be used:

• Twenty-two refrigeration devices to help keep high-demand perishable food, such as produce, dairy, meat and eggs, fresh for longer.
• Nine pallet jacks or forklifts — one pallet jack can save 76 trips for a staff/volunteer per truckload.
• Three box trucks or vans to distribute food throughout the community.
• Variety of other shelving units, reusable bags, insulated bags, shelving, display shelves, etc.

“We are grateful to Raley’s Food for Families for providing our new refrigerator, which will significantly enhance our ability to distribute fresh, nutritious products to our clients,” said Cynthia Rodriguez, co-director of Carson Valley Community Food Closet. “As the number of individuals and families turning to food banks continues to grow, this generous support comes at a critical time. With this new equipment, we’ll be able to safely store and offer more fresh food to more people in need, ensuring no one in our community has to go without healthy options.”

Grant funding was awarded to 21 food security organizations throughout communities that Raley’s serves to help them improve and/or expand their services, the release said.

Full list of grant awardees:

1. Central California Food Bank
2. T.O.T.A
3. Carson Valley Community Food Closet
4. Saint Francis of Assisi Food Pantry
5. Feeding the Foothills
6. Associated Students Food Pantry — Sonoma State
7. Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
8. Murph Emmanuel AME Church
9. First Christian Church Food Pantry
10. Seed of Faith Christian Fellowship
11. Yolo Food Bank
12. Alameda Food Bank
13. Sparks Christian Fellowship
14. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa
15. Redwood Empire Food Bank
16. The Peace Haven Corporation
17. BOSS Church
18. Bridge Network
19. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
20. ICNA Relief Sacramento
21. Crisis Intervention Services (DBA Sierra Community House)

“The infrastructure grants are ultimately about helping support organizations on the front lines of lending a helping hand,” Barsotti said. “We are grateful to play a role in creating a meaningful, long-lasting ripple effect as part of our efforts to address food security in our communities.”