The Central California Food Bank on Tuesday broke ground on a project five years in the making. It will not only provide dedicated space for volunteer work but also allow the nonprofit to accept bulk protein donations.

Natalie Caples, co-CEO of the food bank, expects the 22,000 square-foot Santé Volunteer Center and accompanying George & Melodie Rogers Foundation Protein Repack Room to be ready next October.

The extra space means volunteers can pack the food boxes for the bank’s various programs away from the warehouse at 4010 E. Amendola Dr. Additionally, having a protein repack room — the only food bank west of Texas with one — means the charity can accept bulk animal meat and sort it, greatly expanding the amount of protein given to hungry families, Caples said.

“Volunteers are the lifeline of our organization, without volunteers coming here and bagging and boxing food for our child hunger and farmworker programs, bagging produce for our member partners, we really couldn’t have the impact that we have in our community,” Caples said. “Having a welcoming, inviting space that’s just for volunteer activities is so special and I hope that it demonstrates our commitment.”

Food Bank’s Workforce Development Helps Find Employment

Not only will the protein repack room provide much needed animal protein, but it will expand full-time job opportunities said Kym Dildine, co-CEO of the food bank.

The food bank operates a workforce development program helping connect volunteers to paid jobs, she said. One worker got his first job at JD Foods after volunteering at the food bank, she said.

“This was his first employment. He earned a wage,” Dildine said. “He was able to save money so (his family) could secure housing and move forward. We could not do this without generous donors.”

‘Everyday Heroes Fighting Hunger in the Central Valley’

Helping fund the $7 million project are the George & Melodie Rogers Foundation, which donated $1 million, and Santé Health, which donated an undisclosed amount.

Casey Rogers, the couple’s nephew, said Melodie finds a nonprofit to donate to to commemorate her late husband’s birthday each year. George Rogers founded staffing agency PrideStaff.

Casey Rogers said the mission at the food bank matches what George Rogers wanted.

“We’re thankful for you, the everyday heroes that fight hunger here in the Central Valley,” Rogers said. “Thank you to all the volunteers, staff, and leaders here at the California Food Bank because it’s you that turn this gift into groceries, hope for those who need it, and feed the people that need it the most when the cameras are turned off.”

The food bank began a capital campaign this week to close the project’s financing gap.

Nearly 13,000 people volunteered at the food bank last year, giving a total 84,000 hours. That’s the equivalent of 41 full-time employees and $3.2 million of in-kind hours.

In addition to other work, volunteers pack boxes for child hunger programs and the farmworker programs.

10% Bump in Demand

Typically, the food bank provides donations to 320,000 people every month either directly or through its 60-member nonprofit network. With the government shutdown and the fate of SNAP and CalFresh benefits up in the air, food bank staff saw a 10% bump in demand, Caples said.

“We had the challenge with the SNAP benefits cliff at the first of November and really what we see happening when we go through these disasters like the pandemic or like what we saw at the beginning of November, we really see an increase and then a re-stabilization at that higher level,” Caples said. “Demand really doesn’t go back down.”