The Metronome 01 - April 2026

VOL. 01

METRONOME THE

beats on...

APRIL 2026 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

International

Women’s Week

DONATION

of the month Canned Vegetable W W W. S T O C K T ON FO ODBAN K .OR G

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” ― John A. Shedd

OVER 1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED

WORDS FROM OUR CEO

( JAN-FEB)

Leonard O. Hansen, PH.D. Thank you for opening The Metronome, EFB’s new monthly publication about our client-facing work, our Food-As-Medicine approach to diabetes education, hypertension prevention, and healthy eating, and our service to 107 sites throughout San Joaquin County each month.

Please enjoy the read, savor the stories, and recognize the work that our 24 staff members and volunteers accomplish for our clients in Stockton and San Joaquin County food deserts.

We served 255,674 families and distributed 6,792,743 pounds of food in 2025, roughly doubling the number of families and pounds served in 2019. That growth comes expanding into Food-As-Medicine programs where we partner with University of the Pacific, Abbott Fund, El Concilio, APSARA, Community Medical Centers, and Dignity Health/St. Joseph’s Medical Center to provide medically-tailored meal boxes, nutrition education, “power hour” classes in diabetes management, and YouTube cooking video education for diagnosed diabetic patients referred to us by the two hospital groups. That adds client services to the daily distribution of food boxes at the EFB – now serving over 450 cars daily, each day, M-F. The latest annual numbers show that of the 10.8% of San Joaquin County identified as “food insecure,” (that’s 83,690 residents) – 73,589 residents (88%) were served at our EFB distribution.

We have a compassionate and arduous mission, sustained for over 58 years, to serve our clients. Our staff and volunteers bring that mission to life, nimbly and without fail, each and every day. I’m grateful to be part of the Emergency Food Bank.

Enjoy reading Our Story!

OVER 35,000 VISITS TO OUR PROGRAMS

( JAN-FEB)

Emergency Food Bank

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

EVENTS

TO LOOK FORWARD TO 2026 Cinco de Mayo Multicultural Festival Weekend - May 1st-May 3rd 12pm-10pm 3-day multicultural celebration with live entertainment, food, carnival rides, Ballet Folklórico, kids’ activities, a health fair, a car show, and over 150 booths.

San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206 USPS Stamp Out Hunger - Saturday, May 9th Help us fight hunger right from your mailbox! On May 9th, the USPS Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive makes it easy to support the Food Bank. Just leave non-perishable food items in a bag by your mailbox, and your letter carrier will do the rest! Every item collected stays local and supports neighbors facing food insecurity.

Senior Open House and Resource Fair + Vendors - Wednesday, May 9th, 9am-11am To celebrate "Older American's Month," join us for a day of helpful information! Come interact with the vendors and learn about products and service that are available to seniors.

Lolly Hansen Senior Center 375 E. 9th Street Tracy, CA 95376 209Gives - Tuesday, May 19th Join Stockton's biggest day of giving! 209Gives is a 24-hour online fundraiser supporting local nonprofits, like you, working to strengthen our community. www.209gives.org Kaiser Skedadle Bubble Run - Sunday, June 7th, 8am Get ready for a fun-filled, family-friendly run like no other! The Kaiser Skedaddle Bubble Run combines fitness and fun with a bubble twist! Perfect for all ages and activity levels. Come out, get moving, and support a great cause while enjoying a day of community spirit.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!

Skedadle Bubble Run Sign-Up Link PG&E Assistance Day - Friday, June 12th, 9am-12pm Need help with your PG&E bill? Want to take care of a past-due bill? Curious if there are any assistance programs that you can qualify for? PG&E Assistance Day connects the community with resources, programs, and support to help lower utility costs and manage energy expenses. Stop By the Emergency Food Bank and speak with PG&E team members who will be on-site to provide all the information you may need.

7 W Scotts Ave, Stockton, CA 95203 The Metronome

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL WEEK CELEBRATE, EDUCATE, AND RAISE AWARENESS SURROUNDING WOMEN’S GENDER ISSUES Last month, in March, we celebrated International Women’s Week by sitting down to interview several women on our staff. It was an insightful and rewarding experience to take time to learn more about the women who make it happen here. Despite the celebration passing, we would like to highlight an essential employee, Karla DeLeon, whose work as our Warehouse Operations Manager allow us to continue the fight against food insecurity. Her story and perspective is inspiring, and we would like to publish her interview.

There were times in my childhood when food insecurity was part of our reality. I remember not fully understanding why the pantry felt empty or why certain meals were stretched to last longer. I remember the stress in the household around groceries. It's something that stays with you. So now, standing on the other side, managing inventory, overseeing distributions, making sure pallets are rotated correctly, and nothing goes to waste, it is deeply personal.

This isn't just warehouse management to me. It’s about making sure families don't have to choose between paying a bill and putting food on the table. It's about making sure a child doesn't carry that quiet anxiety about whether there will be enough to eat.

A woman who has deeply influenced how I show up in my work and life is my mother. Growing up, she carried the weight of making sure we had what we needed, even when resources were limited. There were times when food insecurity was part of our reality, but she never allowed us to feel hopeless. She found a way, every time. What stayed with me wasn't just her resilience; it was her dignity. She worked hard, stayed humble, and never treated struggle as an excuse to stop trying. Watching her navigate difficult seasons taught me accountability, strength, and compassion. Today, I carry her influence into my leadership style. I lead with empathy because I understand that people are often fighting battles you can't see. I push for operational excellence in our

Karla DeLeon Warehouse Operations Manager

THE METRONOME

warehouse because I know what it feels like when resources are tight; every box matters. And I show up consistently even on hard days, because she showed me what quiet strength looks like.

One strength I didn't fully recognize before this role is my capacity for empathetic leadership. Because of my own experiences, I connect deeply to the mission.

But I've learned how to turn that empathy into structured. I used to think empathy was just a personal trait. Now I see it as a leadership strength. It influences how I train, how I interact with families, and how I push for operational improvements. I don't just want the warehouse to function; I want it to serve people well.

I've definitely encountered moments where being a woman in leadership was questioned, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. There have been situations where I could sense hesitations, especially from individuals who weren't used to reporting to a woman. Early on, I realized that I couldn't control other people's perceptions, but I could control how I showed up. I focused on competence, consistency, and fairness. I made sure I understood the operational side inside and out, inventory, equipment, safety standards, workflow so that my leadership was rooted in knowledge and confidence. Over time respect followed performance.

When people see you are willing to step on the floor, solve problems, and make tough decisions, and hold everyone including yourself accountable, credibility builds naturally.

There were challenges, yes. But instead of seeing them as barriers, I used them as motivation to sharpen my skills and strengthen my leadership presence. Those experiences didn't just make me tougher; they made me a more effective and empathic leader. Today, I don't focus on proving I belong. I focus on leading well. When I was being managed, my focus was mostly on executing tasks, hitting productivity goals, completing assignments, and doing my job well. I saw leadership from the outside. Becoming a leader shifted my perspective completely. I now understand the weight of responsibility behind decisions, balancing productivity with morale, enforcing standards while maintaining respect and thinking long term instead of just day to day. I've learned that leadership isn't just about giving direction. It's about earning trust. As a woman in a warehouse setting, I've had to be intentional about communication, consistency and fairness. I've learned to listen more, set clear expectations and address issues directly but professionally. Being managed taught me discipline. Being a leader taught me empathy, accountability and the importance of example.

“I would want them to understand that we are stronger than people realize. Many of us carry personal stories of struggle, sacrifice and resilience; and that fuels the work we do.”

Volunteers of the Month AmeriCorps

WITH THE FOOD BANK HAVING 24 EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BACKBONE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY

A FEW WORDS FROM OUR VOLUNTEER MARIA LOPEZ DE LA CRUZ

“Volunteering with EFB is always a seamless experience. EFB staff are accommodating and communicative throughout the entire process.

Volunteering with EFB not only provides hands-on experience but also allows volunteers to become informed on EFB’s resources and work.

Through this volunteer experience, volunteers are able to create realtime impact and see first-hand how their work benefits their

WE ARE GRAFTUFUL TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICORPS’

community. Some take-aways are how well-run EFB is and the amazing work they do! Something that stuck out to me was a data

DEDICATION TO SERVING THE COMMON

statistic that Consuelo provided. EFB serves about 80% of the

GOOD.

population in the county that are food insecure. Their operations are single-handedly increasing food access.

EMERGENCY FOOD BANK

The Emergency Food Bank is an outstanding partner that is very community focused and driven. For our volunteer event, we were able to accomplish the following; 20 volunteers, 4,200 lbs of dry goods packed, and 357 people served. All of this was completed in less than 3 hours through a great team effort that supports the community in times of need. Their team has always been phenomenal, from Jimmy to Consuelo to Dr. Leonard O. Hansen! They keep their community at the forefront of what they do, and it shows in how they treat their team, partners, and the people that come to get support.”

THE METRONOME | VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH

DONATION OF THE MONTH APRIL 2026

Canned

Vegetables

The Metronome

“The misconception that canned fruit and vegetables are less nutritious is outright wrong. Fruits and vegetables are picked and preserved at peak freshness. This ensures great flavor and nutrient quality.“

by Talia Diaz - Nutrition Educator

VERSATILE CONVENIENT SHELF-STABLE

Canned fruits and vegetables have a similar nutritional value when compared to fresh and frozen. Because they are harvested and canned at the peak of ripeness, they retain much of their flavor and key nutrients. Canned foods are a convenient and affordable way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet. The process of canning ensures a long shelf life, anywhere between one to five years. This could be beneficial for people who find themselves throwing away fresh produce due to spoilage.

When choosing a canned product there are some factors you may want to consider like added sugars, sodium and damaged cans. Pick canned fruits that are packed in water or 100% fruit juice to avoid unnecessary added sugars. Choose products that are labeled,” low sodium” or “no salt added.” Rinse and drain canned vegetables to reduce sodium content. Avoid cans that have dents, bulges, cracks, or leaks.

BY TALIA DIAZ‌‌ NUTRITION EDUCATOR

Fueling Change: Nutrition Programs Progress

The ‌Mobile Farmers Market‌ program is still going strong, travelling to over 80 different sites throughout San Joaquin County delivering fresh produce and nutrition education. The hour-long distribution

provides

participants

with

a

live

cooking

demonstration, food samples, and produce to take back home to

Stay up-to-date with the impactful work of the Healthy Food Rx program, Food as Medicine program and the Mobile Farmers Market.‌

Emergency Food Bank

their families. We’re proud to announce Tracy Community Connections Center as the newest site that has been added to the Mobile Farmers Market program. TCCC provides resources to the unhoused and transitional population.

The ‌Food-As-Medicine‌ program is a collaborative initiative that unites local organizations and healthcare providers to examine the vital connection between nutrition and health. Participants engage in a 6-month program, attending one class per month focused on health education topics related to chronic illness management and dietary choices. The Emergency Food Bank's nutrition educators will begin the 6-month Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) curriculum April 2026 through September 2026 at three community sites and one in-person site in the Nutrition Center at the Emergency Food Bank. Based on the San Joaquin County’s 2025 Community Needs Assessment, the findings revealed a priority need for a HEAL curriculum, an initiative that is supported by CommonSpirit, St Joseph’s Hospital. The educators from the University of the California Cooperative Extension will begin an eight week series called, Eat Smart Be Active, beginning April 2026.

The ‌Healthy Food Rx‌program combines medically supported food box deliveries with diabetes education to better meet the needs of Stockton’s diabetic population. This collaborative effort brings together the Emergency Food Bank, APSARA, Community Medical Centers, University of the Pacific, and El Concilio as part of Abbott’s Future Well Communities initiative. Currently, the program serves 333 participants. For the first time, participants also received one-on-one, individualized diabetes care from a registered nurse, along with hands-on support and screenings through a partnership with the UOP nursing team.

The Metronome

Healthy FoodRX

By Alana Moreno - Nutrition Education Program Manager

On Friday's Final Class of the Diabetes Education Cohort with UOP's School of Nursing, we had one success story come up. One of our clients was thrilled to share a short testimonial of her experience in class, time with Rose for a 1-on-1, and the nursing team guiding her with some tips in diabetes management.

"I’ve been a diabetic for 20+ years. I know it is important to take all my meds and to eat healthy. Recently I’ve been struggling to keep my blood sugars down. When I started the Healthy Food Rx program, my time in range was less than 20%. In the program, I learned that the timing of my meds and meals is important. Just by ensuring I ate at the same time and took my meds at the same time every day, my blood sugars improved! I am now more than 80% of the time in range and improving every day! Thank you Healthy Food Rx (and Rose)!"

- Marissa L

Here's some information on Time in Range for context, from ADA: "Time in range is the amount of time you spend in the target blood glucose (blood sugar) range—between 70 and 180 mg/dL for most people. The time in range method works with your CGM’s data by looking at the amount of time your blood glucose has been in target range and the times you’ve been high (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia). Time in range is often depicted as a bar graph showing the

percentage of time over a specific amount of time when your blood glucose was low, in range, and high.

This data is helpful in finding out which types of foods and what activity level causes your blood glucose to rise and fall.

Most people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes should aim for a time in range of at least 70 percent of readings—meaning 70 percent of readings, you should aim for roughly 17 out of 24 hours each day to be in range (not high or low). Some may have different targets. Talk with your doctor to figure out the right blood glucose levels and time in range targets are right for you. Because CGMs are relatively new, we’re still learning about the longterm results of time in range. Here’s what we do know: the more time you spend in range, the less likely you are to develop certain diabetes complications.

Time in range versus A1C: A1C is a measure of your average blood glucose for the previous three months —but it doesn’t document the daily highs and lows that people may have. The introduction of time in range is a result of the improvements in diabetes management (specifically CGMs) and what we find out from your A1C, the current gold standard for determining diabetes management."

This is clear evidence of the real, positive impact we’re making in the lives of people in our community. For that reason, we can take pride in the effort we put into opening that classroom every Friday!

DONATE TODAY

Contributors Leonard O. Hansen President & CEO

Alana Moreno Nutrition Education Program Manager

Talia Diaz Nutrition Educator

Anthony Villalobos

Media Associate/Editor for the Metronome

Alesha Pichler

Community Relations Manager

Kathy Croci

Director of Administration

Consuelo Ishihara Exectutive Assistant

Pantry Hours Emergency Food Bank 7 W Scotts Ave, Stockton, CA 95203

Hours of Operation 8:00am - 3:30pm Food Distribution 9:00am - 12:00pm Walk-Up Distribution 10:00am - 11:00am Contact Us (209) 464-7369 info@stocktonfoodbank.org

THE METRONOME BEATS ON . . .