San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Needs 1,600 More Turkeys by Thanksgiving

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Nov. 19, 2015) – The Food Bank has committed to providing turkeys to nearly 150 partner agencies in San Francisco and Marin. Between now and next Thursday, organizations like the Delancey Street Foundation, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, Homeward Bound of Marin, Larkin Street Youth Services, and St. Vincent de Paul’s Dining Room will be busy preparing all the fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and, of course, turkeys that the Food Bank provides. These partner organizations prepare large-scale Thanksgiving meals for thousands of low-income families and individuals, and the Food Bank needs 1,600 additional turkeys to keep its promise to them.

With turkey prices higher than last year and Thanksgiving exactly one week away, Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash emphasized the critical role the community plays in helping the Food Bank reach its goal: “We feel a special kind of responsibility to our participants during the holidays. When many of us are out shopping for ingredients to make our holiday meals, there are thousands of families, seniors, and children who aren’t sure what they’ll be eating for Thanksgiving. It’s crunch time for the Food Bank, and we need donations: turkeys, non-perishable foods, and cash. Gifts like these help ensure the holidays are happier for everyone in our community.”

Thanksgiving Day Media Opportunity: The Food Bank warehouse in San Francisco is hosting a special Thanksgiving Day volunteer shift from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Volunteers will be sorting and repacking thousands of pounds of pantry-bound holiday produce. Media inquiries and visits are welcome.

How to Help
Cash Donations | For every $1 donated, the food bank can provide $5 worth of food. To donate

online, visit www.sfmfoodbank.org.

San Francisco Turkey Donations, 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Potrero Hill | Turkey donations are welcome Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Marin Turkey Donations, 75 Digital Drive, Novato | This Saturday, November 21st, bring turkeys to the front of the building from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. All other turkey donations are welcome Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Holidays at the Food Bank

Every week of the year, the Food Bank provides fresh fruits and vegetables, pantry staples, and lean proteins to 144,000 people in San Francisco and Marin counties. During the holidays, items are tailored for celebrations: gravy, sweet potatoes, rice, cranberry sauce, pears, rolls, a dessert, and, of course, a turkey. The Food Bank needs the community’s help in order to:

• Raise $8 million dollars – nearly half its annual operating budget – to feed the people of San Francisco and Marin throughout the year.

• Acquire 500,000 pounds of non-perishable food via food drives. • Provide enough food for 10 million meals by December 31st.

Visit www.sfmfoodbank.org/ for information on our most-needed items, how to host a food drive of your own, and make a monetary donation.

About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

The Food Bank plays a central role in the food assistance network in San Francisco and Marin, where one in four residents is at risk of hunger. Families, seniors and individuals find critical support in the food the Food Bank delivers to its 450 partnering organizations, including 246 weekly grocery pantries. Set up farmer’s market-style, the Food Bank’s pantries enable households to select groceries that can be used to create home- cooked meals. Nearly 60 percent of what is distributed is fresh fruits and vegetables. The Food Bank will distribute more than 48 million pounds of food to the community this year alone – enough for more than 100,000 meals every day.

Media kit: www.sfmfoodbank.org/media-kit