Sacramento Food Bank Needs Are Year-Round

The Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services provides food, clothing, educational training and other services to 150,000 men, women and children every month. 

Kelly Siefkin with the nonprofit agency says donations traditionally "surge" around the holidays, but drop off in January. 

"It is really important to remember that people are hungry in February and need clothing in July and would love to get their GED in the fall," she says. 

Siefkin says financial help and donations are needed year-round. 

"The majority of the individuals that we serve are the 'working poor' - most people have homes, most people have jobs," she explained. "But it definitely is very hard to make ends meet and so what we are doing is providing emergency services, like clothing and food. But then also services that are educational-based to help people move toward self-sufficiency." 

She says adult educational services offered include GED training, English as a Second Language, technology skills and job development. 

Siefkin says more volunteers are always needed. 

"We're always looking for volunteers that is a great need at our organization," she says. "We have over 6,200 volunteers that serve with us annually. The minimum age to volunteer is 10, so families can come down, and we have opportunities during the day, weekend and holiday for them to get involved."