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Kitchen adds new dimension to Food Pantry

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The Fallbrook Food Pantry, established in 1988, is one of the most successful in the county, distributing 100,000 pounds of food per month to Fallbrook residents. Now they are working on making sure residents know how to eat healthy.

The food baskets given weekly to about 400 families a week are nutritious, said Carolina Miller, programs/operations manager. The new service to their clients is educational classes in the new Sousa Family Learning Center.

Shae Gawlak, executive director, said since the ribbon cutting and grand opening on Jan. 21, two classes have started: Cooking Matters for adults and youth 12 and older Feb. 8, and Diabetes Prevention and Maintenance March 12.

"The goal is to have 4-7 classes simultaneously during the week in the next couple of months," Gawlak said. "We also plan to start eight-week ESL classes beginning in June and after that, occupational training."

The Cooking Matters classes are for six weeks, each two hours, and teach healthy strategies, positive attitudes about cooking that will lead participants to cook more often, consume and make healthier meals that are budget-friendly, and show how to stretch their food dollars. All the classes are bilingual.

Much of the focus is on child nutrition and its implications for health. A healthier diet is associated with a lower risk for poor health outcomes, helping to prevent childhood obesity.

"We teach what is good for your body and that common sense matters," Gawlak said. "You are what you eat."

Additional topics are meal planning, making healthy choices, food ingredients, and how to read labels.

"The purpose is to encourage and empower the needy in our community to be aware of better nutrition," Gawlak added. "We promote healthy habits."

The Diabetes Prevention and Maintenance classes are evidence-based. Each participant enters the class meeting with a health nursing student, who conducts an initial health screening (blood pressure, resting heart rate, weight, BMI, blood sugar levels, etc.). Each participant receives education and support on how to prevent and/or reverse type 2 diabetes. Course materials cover physical activity tracking, food tracking, behavioral and lifestyle changes.

The course is for eight weeks, one day per week for two hours. The class learns about carbs and sugars, as well as other information, from a dietitian.

The Fallbrook Food Center was started in 1988 by the Ministerial Alliance-Fallbrook Mission Project to provide food to the needy in the community.

It's open to distribute food to Fallbrook residents Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There are maximum income levels based on family size and qualified recipients are given computerized cards to allow one visit to the pantry per week.

People picking up food check in and receive a shopping cart from the market-style "store." The carts are filled with healthy and balanced food – 80% is fresh produce, including meat, Miller said. In addition, there is dairy, frozen meat, and dry/canned goods.

There is an additional neighborhood distribution the last Wednesday of the month at LifePointe Church at 220 N. Pico St. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and is over when the food is gone.

The Marine Corps also picks up food to distribute to low-income families on base.

Miller said another way for seniors and disabled adults to receive food is by delivery.

"During COVID-19, the deliveries increased from two weekly routes to eight," she said, "with the number of homes visited jumping from 20 to 60."

The Fallbrook Food Pantry is a non-profit organization primarily staffed by volunteers. Its mission is to provide an adequate and nutritious supply of food to individuals in Fallbrook who are in need.

"Volunteers are the core of the organization," Miller said. "Our volunteer team numbers more than 100 a month, people who come in one day or more days a week."

There are many volunteer tasks, including helping with deliveries, sorting food, packaging baskets, clean-up and office work.

The San Diego Food Bank and Feeding America are the primary providers of food for the Fallbrook Food Pantry.

Miller said community members give about 20,000 pounds of citrus and avocados per month through its "backdoor" program.

Another primary source is local food that is nearing its expiration date – but is still fresh – and donated to the center, Miller said. She added that meat, bread, dairy, produce and staples from Albertsons are delivered six times a week – amounting to 15,000 pounds a month.

"That's been a special blessing," Miller said.

Other food sources in Fallbrook are Grocery Outlook, Major Market, KFC and McDonald's. Walmart in Vista and Costco in San Marcos also contribute.

Donations are also needed for the business part of the organization, including salaries, electricity, and gas for the deliveries.

Miller said sometimes people will bring a bag or cans or other items, but she likes to explain a much more efficient way to give is with cash or check.

"Instead of heading to a grocery store to buy cans or other items, give cash," Miller said. "We can get a full pallet of cans from San Diego for $150, a much better 'bang for the buck.'"

Fallbrook Food Pantry is located at 140 N Brandon Road. For information, call 760-728-7608 or visit fallbrookfoodpantry.org.

 

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