The Salvation Army Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the community. By giving hungry people and families access to basic food supplies. The Salvation Army, a global charity that has been helping those in need for more than 150 years, is the parent organization of the food bank.
Its mission is to make sure that no one in the community goes hungry. The Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank is situated in a neighborhood that is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. The food bank is supported by the kindness of donors and volunteers, who give their time and food donations to assist in distributing food to those in need.
The Salvation Army Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank is a vital community resource and a ray of hope for those struggling to put food on the table because of its dedication to providing emergency food assistance.
Mission and Objectives of the Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank
The Emergency Food Bank’s goal is to strengthen the local community by offering a safety net of food, and information on nutrition. And health, job training, and hope for San Joaquin County residents experiencing an emergency.
The Food Bank strongly emphasizes education, food economics, health, and nutrition. The Food Bank offers courses in nutrition education and the design and preparation of wholesome, budget-friendly meals. Food is distributed across San Joaquin County by the primary pantry, 14 satellite pantries, and 61 Mobile Farmer’s Market locations. Additionally, available help with the CalFresh application.
The Eligible to Receive Assistance from the Food Bank?
The LSS Food Pantries permit anyone whose household earns no more than 200% of the federal poverty level to use them. They do not determine eligibility based on zip code or neighborhood.
The documents at the links below contain tables that display the annual gross income for various family sizes. You qualify for food assistance if your household income is equal to less than the amount indicated for the number of people living in your home.
Services and Resources Provided by the Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank
Our emergency services include a food pantry with non-perishable goods, fresh food, and toiletries. We additionally deliver to senior clients and low-income housing developments in the area. We provide short-term emergency financial assistance to people in need of help. With rent payments as well as assistance with heating. And cooling costs, in addition to helping clients feed their families. Other services available to clients include case management and financial counseling. Both of these can assist people and families in resolving the issues that contributed to their current crisis.
Residents of Reston or Herndon who qualify can get help by showing a photo ID and a piece of mail from the previous 30 days. Due to job losses or a lack of employment, many new households are using social services for the first time. We have been able to assist an increasing number of people in feeding their families and maintaining their homes
because of the support of our community.
Volunteer Opportunities at the Food Bank
Each volunteer experience varies slightly. The following are some potential volunteer activities:
- Pack and sort the food: The shelves can be kept stocked by assembling food distribution boxes.
- Support at drive-through pantries, no-contact distributions, and mobile pantries: Ensure that your neighbors’ families have food.
- Delivering food: You can contribute to ensuring our most vulnerable neighborhoods have the food they need while staying safe, as many communities take refuge.
- Glean and cultivate: After harvest, volunteers gather food left in the fields and tend the community garden at the food pantry or food bank.
- Volunteering remotely: A few food banks have moved their volunteer opportunities online and are looking for volunteers to help with fundraising or awareness-raising.
Your security is our top concern. To ensure the safety of the employees and volunteers, the Feeding America network complies with all local. And Centers for Disease Control regulations regarding sanitation, hygiene, and social distancing. This might involve using masks, handwashing sinks, gloves, smaller groups, and other safety measures.
Challenges and Future Plans for the Food Bank
1. Participation in programs may be more difficult for people with more significant needs.
People who may require a variety of services are helped by food banks to get on the road to stability. However, engaging those in need in new programs can be challenging. If they move around a lot or are preoccupied with other issues, like a sick relative or a job loss.
2. Collecting data can be complex.
It can be more challenging to track and gather follow-up data from families who move around a lot or are otherwise less stable, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of a program. With post-program data on participants, it can be easier for food banks to communicate impacts to funders, and other potential participants.
3. Partnerships are essential but complex.
Food banks may need to develop a framework for collaborating with partners on data-sharing agreements. And privacy to implement programs that offer wraparound services in collaboration with other agencies and organizations.
In conclusion, support for emergency food banks like The Salvation Army Cornerstone is essential to guarantee that people. And families in need have access to essentials like food. The need for food assistance is more significant than ever due to rising food insecurity and economic unrest. Our neighborhood’s most vulnerable neighbors can access the food they need to thrive if we
support organizations like The Salvation Army Cornerstone.
Additionally, we can contribute to developing a sense of community. And solidarity in the fight against hunger by volunteering and donating to emergency food banks. Supporting these organizations is a practical way to improve the lives of those who are in need. The work done by emergency food banks is crucial to building a healthier, more just society. We can all benefit from a more equitable and sustainable future if we work together.
You can get involved in supporting The Salvation Army Cornerstone Emergency Food Bank in numerous ways. You can volunteer your time, give financial support, or give food. Ensuring those in need in our neighborhood have access to food, a basic necessity, helps in any small way.