More than 29,000 meals headed to Alameda County on July 21 as part of an interfaith community effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. While this event was held in Oakland, as an interfaith and multi-community youth service project, many of the youth volunteering at the event were from Lamorinda. Approximately 40,000 pounds of food was distributed to a dozen local charities, and over 80 youth assembled the 1,000 hygiene kits for
the homeless.

    The Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB), Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) partnered to address food insecurity throughout Alameda County.

    A semi-truckload of food arrived in Oakland on Tuesday, July 21. This was one of 250 trucks the LDS church sent throughout the United States. By the end of the year 10 million pounds of food will have been donated. Each truck carries approximately 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable pantry staples that can feed 1,400 families for one week.

    The need for food is significant. According to the ACCFB, one in four members of the community they serve is experiencing or at risk of hunger. 

    “The challenges get much harder during the summer when children no longer have access to healthy meals at school,” says Regi Young, Executive Director of Alameda County Community Food Bank. “Our community and our food bank face similar challenges accessing some of the highest quality and high demand foods because they are typically also the most expensive. Fresh milk is among the top items on these lists, so we are extremely grateful for this donation to help more families stretch their budgets and get through these challenging summer months.”  

    Two days later, on July 23, another semi-truck, this one bearing fresh milk from the LDS church, arrived at the ACCFB.