Mission: The mission of the Community Pantry is to provide food assistance to needy persons of San Benito County in a manner that provides for dignity and responsibility on the part of the recipient.

Activities: Provide supplemental and, increasingly, emergency food assistance to needy families, ill and disabled people, seniors, working poor, migrants. Help clients get benefits they qualify for. Pick up and deliver food donations; provide nutrition counseling; table and attend community events to publicize needs and donor opportunities. May begin community garden in near future; fundraising underway for permanent site.

Needs/Projects for FALL 2008:

Marketing: There is a need to better market the services of the agency to the community. The need for a better designed website is a priority. Specifically, there is content needed. This could come in the development of an oral history project where stories are told online to demonstrate needs within the community and those who have volunteered to meet those needs selflessly. There is also a need to develop other ways to advertise the agency and its work in the community.

Event planning and implementation: There are existing events that the agency participates in or organizes annually. One need is to develop new events/outlets for community awareness.

Demographic research: Needed to determine and assess client needs in Spanish and English so services can meet needs. The clients served by the agency do not read the local newspapers, thus there is a need to have workers who can communicate agency information to the Spanish speaking community. The agency would like to have student volunteers who assist in the identification of missing clients (2000 census) to increase USDA funding for the agency.

Nutrition: Culturally appropriate nutrition education for Spanish-speaking and elderly populations; diabetes and obesity prevention education; classes teaching about nutrition and how to read the labels on American food packages are of high importance.

Demographic research is needed to determine assess client needs in Spanish and English so services can meet needs and so grants can be applied for. Research on gaps in food provision in county; research on duplication of food and/or social service provision in county are needed also.

Handing out food/Intake: There remains the need for individuals to hand out food to clients, and have the opportunity to see first hand the need in the community for the services. The agency hands out bags of food Wednesday - Thursday (1:00 to 4:00) and Friday-Saturday (9:00 – 4:00) in four-hour shifts. There is a need to have hands that help the disabled get the food into vehicles, and to do the intake for new clients.

Workshops on skills and issues for clients, depending on student resources

Who should apply:Students interested in working with and for low income populations. Spanish speakers a plus.

Don’t apply if: You cannot fulfill commitments to put in necessary time. The agency prefers to limit how many students it will take in the fall semester. The Pantry cannot take a student under the age of 16 years old. Women do not work in the bagging area.

Address: 1133 San Felipe Drive Hollister CA 95023

Contact information:Mary Anne Hughes, Executive Director Phone 831 637-0340 maryanne.pantry@sbcglobal.net