Jesse Ramirez, Executive Director of the Valley View Community Food Bank, was today’s
speaker.
He again thanked the membership for their generous donation of backpacks. They will be distributed next week. His usual back-to-school distribution event has once again been curtailed because of COVID-19. He hopes that next year, he’ll once again be able to offer free haircuts. No volunteers are needed this year to distribute backpacks. Jesse did mention that he has 3 pallets of books (6th grade level) that he’ll distribute this year as well as school supplies. He’ll be contacting the Levi Strauss Company to see if they will donate clothing items for next year’s Back-to-School event. He announced that the Food Bank has a new walk-in freezer that can hold 24 pallets of food. More businesses have been stepping up to help the Food Bank this year. He said that the number of clients receiving food boxes is about 500 per day.
His greatest need is for all types of canned goods, which have become very expensive to purchase. He hopes to receive more canned goods through various community food drives. Construction began yesterday on a new 5,000 sq. ft. warehouse near Dysart and Cactus. Jesse anticipates it to be completed by mid-September. A number of local businesses have stepped up to pay for all construction costs. The 3 thrift stores are once again open and able to cover most overhead expenses of the Food Bank. Joseph, one of Jesse’s sons is now managing all three thrift stores.
At the end of the program, Carole Bakken presented Jesse with a grants check for $1,000.