Local volunteers ready to help with Yolo Food Bank’s Thanksgiving meal kit distribution event Saturday morning at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, located at 1250 Gum Ave. in Woodland. (Courtesy)
On a wet and cold Saturday morning, the Yolo Food Bank and its partner agencies wrapped up a week of giving to Yolo County residents with three meal kit distribution events, including one for Woodland families at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, located at 1250 Gum Ave.
Starting at 8am, dozens of dedicated volunteers from various groups or organizations around Woodland distributed over 500 food kits to the hundreds of cars lined up in the fairgrounds parking lot by the Gum.
In total, the Yolo Food Bank distributed over 2,220 kits throughout Yolo County this past week.
“Despite the rain, more than 60 volunteers showed up today at the Yolo County Fairgrounds to help the Yolo Food Bank distribute Thanksgiving meal kits,” said Maria Segoviano, YFB Director of Development and Communications. “It’s a beloved tradition at Woodland – we have groups like La Obra, the Kiwanis Club, folks from Dinner on Main and others who come back year after year to volunteer! It is so inspiring to see new and familiar faces.”
The event was first-come, first-served and either drive-up or walk-in. To be eligible for a meal kit, individuals must have been residents of Yolo County or the specific area where the distribution event took place and must provide proof of residency along with pre-registration when required.
Each meal kit included a turkey, a variety of fresh seasonal produce, dry stuffing and gravy, and other ingredients to complete a classic Thanksgiving meal.
“People were so grateful to get these Thanksgiving meal kits,” Segoviano said. “Even after waiting in line for hours, the second they saw the food trucks arrive, their faces lit up. I spoke to a group of food recipients and some told me they walked more than five blocks in the rain and waited hours to get their food. The Yolo Food Bank is here to help people who may need it for a day, a week, a year or more. It means a lot if we can give them one less thing to worry about.”
The Children’s Alliance of Yolo County hosted the first outreach event in Clarksburg at 52910 Netherlands Dr. That same day, the Food Bank served residents of Guinda and the Brooks and Rumsey areas at 52910 Netherlands Dr.
On Nov. 15, Dunnigan residents picked up kits at 2501 County Road 88. On Nov. 16, Empower Yolo hosted two events, one for Yolo residents and Zamora at 37817 Sacramento St. and one for Knights Landing residents at 9586 Mill St.
On November 17, RISE Inc. also hosted two events, the first for residents of Esparto at 17317 Fremont St. and then for Winters residents at 417 Haven St. The Madison Community Committee’s Food Closet hosted Madison residents at 28963 Main St.
On Saturday, along with the distribution event in Woodland, was the Davis event held at Pole Line Road Baptist Church and the YCCA event in West Sacramento, where 700 food kits, along with other valuable resources, were distributed during the Alliance 18- th Annual Community Giving Day.
“I am very grateful to all the volunteers and donors who made this possible,” Segoviano said. “If you are able to donate, please consider making a gift to our Yolo Gives and Gathers campaign: http://yolofb.org/ygg2023. We fell short of our goal and it would mean the world has your support – you will give the gift of coming together to neighbors in need this holiday season.”