Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
Fallbrook Food Pantry Executive Director Shae Gawlik, left, and volunteer Nancy Rocha wear their safety face shields while celebrating the recent $5,000 grant for more food to be given out to needy residents.
The Fallbrook Food Pantry is well stocked with cans of soup, bags of potatoes and, not pictured, cans of tuna, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the ProtoStar Group.
Fallbrook Food Pantry received a $5,000 emergency grant from the ProtoStar Group's COVID-19 Relief Fund for Nonprofits at the beginning of May allowing the pantry to restock its shelves. The philanthropic foundation in San Diego sent a check 10 days after receiving the grant application.
As with every other nonprofit organization, the coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the Fallbrook Food Pantry with foundation grants and individual contributions falling off dramatically.
Making the situation even more difficult, funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act stalled while some local relief funds, such as San Diego's Small Business Relief Fund, exclude nonprofit organizations.
To avoid smaller nonprofit organizations getting left behind, ProtoStar established the COVID-19 Relief Fund for Nonprofits, March 28. According to ProtoStar's website, "The fund is specifically intended to assist smaller nonprofits with net liquid assets below $250,000 and net revenues of less than $100,000 in 2019.
ProtoStar described Fallbrook Food Pantry's need on its website: "Since March 16, the number of families needing assistance with food has skyrocketed at the Fallbrook Food Pantry. Yet, donations have not kept up with the increase in the number of families served. A contribution from ProtoStar's COVID-19 Relief Fund would hopefully help make up the difference."
By May 2, unemployment reached 27.25% in Fallbrook and 28.16% in Bonsall, according to a report issued by San Diego Association of Government. The food pantry estimated that the increase in distribution is currently about 20-25% more than normal.
The pantry's grant application indicated that approximately 270 households, or about 961 individuals, now depend on Fallbrook Food Pantry for their grocery needs every week. These numbers are expected to rise in the coming months.
The food pantry is the only free service where families in need can receive groceries in the Greater Fallbrook area, which also includes Bonsall, DeLuz, Rainbow and Pala. The pantry's grant application said it is distributing approximately $150 worth of food per family a week and it serves about 4,730 seniors annually.
The application said approximately 40% of those served are children. The families who depend on the Fallbrook Food Pantry for their weekly groceries are racially diverse: Hispanic (41.8%), African American (26.6%), Asian (10%) and White (21.6%).
The Fallbrook Food Pantry is holding fund drives and appealing to foundations, governmental agencies, individuals, and other funders for grants and contributions.
Gary Poon, head of the ProtoStar group, said its goal is to "help fill the gap in donations and encourage others to contribute too" as well as "make a big impact on a small group."
To see how ProtoStar is hopefully transforming philanthropy and learn how to partner with it, visit https://protostargroup.com/.
Fallbrook area residents in need of food can go to the food pantry Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 140 N. Brandon St. A driver's license or other ID is needed to receive food. For more information, call 760-728-7608.
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