Grants program awards Fallbrook Food Pantry, Fallbrook Music Society

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Fallbrook Food Pantry and the Fallbrook Music Society were allocated Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grants during the April 26 San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote provides $34,712 to the Fallbrook Food Pantry and $15,000 for the Fallbrook Music Society. The Fallbrook Food Pantry grant will help fund plumbing repair and hardware at the organization’s building while the Fallbrook Music Society funding will support the Classical Sunday Concert Series and the In-School Music Program.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provides grants to non-profit organizations for the furtherance of public purposes at the regional and community levels. In addition to non-profit organizations, county supervisors also can fund schools and fire departments, and supervisors also can use money from their budgets to supplement other county funding for specific county projects, such as parks, roads, and libraries.

Each county supervisor recommends the allocation of his or her Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funds, although those allocations must be approved by a majority of the board. Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended the use of his District 5 budget for the grants to the Fallbrook Food Pantry and the Fallbrook Music Society.

The Fallbrook Food Pantry was established in 1991 and provides food for less fortunate Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, DeLuz and Pala residents. The Fallbrook Food Pantry assists also with emotional support for community members; and refers individuals in need of clothing, shelter, or medical care to the appropriate agency.

Approximately 6,000 households qualify for assistance based on Federal poverty level standards, and more than 600 households are helped by Fallbrook Food Pantry programs. The Fallbrook Food Pantry accepts emergency walk-ins as well as registered households. On an annual basis the Fallbrook Food Pantry distributes nearly one million pounds of food.

Rented space on South Mission Road was used by the Fallbrook Food Pantry until 2019, when the Fallbrook Food Pantry purchased its North Brandon Road building. The new building will not only eliminate rental expenses once the mortgage is paid off but also is larger than the Fallbrook Food Pantry's previous facility. The plumbing repair and hardware will increase the building’s safety.

The Fallbrook Music Society provides classical music concerts, and the Classical Sunday Concert Series performances at no charge. The in-school music program provides performances, education, and mentoring to six Fallbrook Union Elementary School District schools. Between the concert series and the in-school program the Fallbrook Music Society has provided music enrichment to more than 5,000 people.