Can you imagine what the world would be like if hunger went unmet?  While we alone can't make that happen world-wide, if every community in the world tackles hunger locally, it will happen.  The Food Bank Coalition imagines a hunger-free community every day.  We not only imagine, but we plan for that day.  We do our homework.  We seek collaboration with others who want to drive the scourge of hunger from our midst.  We strive to educate and inspire the community to help us build the capacity to meet the challenge of hunger.  Then we roll up our sleeves and get down to work.  As a community, we will end hunger in SLO County and provide access to healthy food for every person, young and old, who would otherwise go hungry.  Each Hunger Awareness Day we are closer to that reality.

Friday, June 7th will be our 6th annual Hunger Awareness Day.  Over the years, you have helped us raise $650,000 toward the vision of a hunger-free community.  You have helped us reach most of the 44,000 people in our county who suffer from food insecurity, 40% of them children.  Simply by donating a dollar or more to one of our 26 donation sites throughout the county on June 7th, mailing a check, going to our website, or at any SLO County Rabobank location, you become part of this vision on its way to reality.   

Hunger Awareness Day is about your feet and hands working together at home, your workplace, your place of worship or service club to touch, and yes, to change the lives of those who lack the basic resources to provide healthy food for their families.

Food Banks have a very special role to play in a community with this vision.  We obtain food very efficiently through donations, cooperative purchasing, and local gleaning.  We benefit from thousands of hours of donated time from hundreds of volunteers.  We have the capacity to contract with government programs available to our county in its own fight on our behalf to challenge hunger in our midst.  Putting this all together, for every dollar donated, we can provide $10 worth of healthy food to your neighbors in need. 

Carl Hansen 

Chief Executive Officer