Community

The Riversider | October/November 2021

WORDS: SOFIA MILLA

Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino is a non-profit organization on a mission to end hunger in the community by providing food access to those facing food insecurity in the Riverside and San Bernardino communities for the past 40 years. FARSB is the largest and most efficient hunger relief program in the Inland Empire, donating over one million pounds of food monthly to schools, senior centers, homeless shelters, and more. One hundred percent of all donations remain in the Inland Empire to help those in our community. In the year 2020 alone, over 1.8 million individuals were served, and 11.5 million pounds of edible food was saved from landfills. “We’re one of the very few food banks that doesn’t have to purchase food, so a donation of $1 helps to provide up to seven meals,” said Carolyn Solar, Philanthropy Director at FARSB. Food insecurity is a huge issue in the Riverside community, and it doesn’t affect just one demographic. “A lot of people think it’s linked to the homelessness in the area, but it’s really not. A majority of people who call us are everyday people who live paycheck to paycheck,” explained Solar. The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic “A lot of people think it’s linked to the homelessness in the area, but it’s really not. A majority of people who call us are everyday people who live paycheck to paycheck”

left many jobless—unable to pay for groceries, and unable to leave their homes. So, in order to provide their services in a safe and socially distanced way to those who need it most, the team at FARSB worked quickly and efficiently to create the HERO program (Homebound Emergency Relief Outreach). They supply high-risk elders and other homebound individuals with food and emergency supplies by connecting them with volunteers able to deliver boxes of shelf-stable food and emergency supplies straight to their front door. Since March 2020, the HERO program has provided over 8,000 homes with food boxes. “During the pandemic, we saw a lot of the people who were directly benefiting from our services. So we were able to meet the people on the receiving end, which was rewarding, as well as disheartening,” said Carolyn. As government restrictions have lifted, FARSB has now opened their warehouse to volunteers. They sort products into categories and individual boxes that are then sent out to over 250 community partners, such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food pantries, and more. “We are fortunate to have so many volunteers that are eager to assist us here in the community,” said Carolyn. “Riverside is very giving!” In addition to volunteering, another way that people can get involved is food drives. Giving local businesses, schools, and other groups the opportunity to collect food donations. Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino’s goal is to provide 23 million meals annually, and they hope to provide the community with even more nutritious products by 2024. FARSB remains determined in their mission to alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire.

For more information on how to get involved, please visit feedingamericaie.org

Feeding America Riverside San Bernardino 2950 Jefferson St. B (951) 359-4757 feedingamericaie.org