FRESNO — James M. Ford, president and CEO of Central Valley Community Bank, announced its fifth Business Food Fund Challenge campaign to benefit food banks from the San Joaquin Valley to the Greater Sacramento region. Along with its own donation of $8,000 to ten food banks in its territory, the bank is challenging other businesses to join the effort to fund local food banks which are working tirelessly to provide needed nourishment for families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For every $1 donated, qualified food banks are able to fund up to seven meals through bulk contracts. For example, Central Valley Community Bank’s donation will pay for up to 56,000 individual meals. To support the Business Food Fund Challenge, the bank is providing contact information and donation preferences for food banks within their territory which is detailed below.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, massive job losses due to business closures and reductions in commerce have created a spike in the need for services provided by food banks.
According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, California food banks are experiencing unprecedented demand with a 73 percent increase in year-over-year demand.
While the true economic impact of the pandemic is still unknown, it is anticipated that food insecurity will continue to escalate in the coming months, up to a year or longer. Many do not have sufficient income to support their families or provide basic needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the May 8, 2020, U.S. Department of Labor announcement, the unemployment rate increased by 10.3 percentage points to 14.7 percent in the month of April marking this as the highest month-over-month increase in documented history.
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) also reported an unemployment rate increase of 1.4 percent in the month of March to 5.3 percent, the largest such increase on record since 1976, with an increase anticipated in the coming months.
The need for essential goods will continue to grow due to the extraordinary job loss, putting extra strain on local food banks as they strive to help those who have nowhere else to go to feed their families.
While federal and state funding programs have been announced to support food banks, meeting the growing need is impossible without communities coming together to additionally support them. This year, for the fifth time since originating the campaign in 2014, Central Valley Community Bank is continuing the fight against hunger in the communities it serves and is challenging other businesses to do the same.
The Business Food Fund Challenge is also joined by the Bank’s entire team of employees who are creatively motivating and inspiring each another to raise funds for food banks. Since 2014, and including this campaign, the bank has donated $50,400 to food banks in the communities it proudly serves.
“Central Valley Community Bank takes great pride in providing help to families in need through supporting local food banks,” said Ford. “Given the current environment, food banks are experiencing increased demand and their need for donations has grown exponentially. We encourage other local and regionally-based businesses to join us in donating now in their own communities.”
Listed below are the food banks receiving donations from Central Valley Community Bank, with contact information and donation preferences for other interested businesses to use so they, too, can support their local food banks. For more information on Central Valley Community Bank’s Business Food Fund Challenge, visit www.cvcb.com/business-food-fund-challenge.
Central California Food Bank
Counties Served: Fresno, Madera, Kings, Kern and Tulare Counties
Contact: Kym Dildine, Chief Administrative Officer
559-237-3663
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.ccfoodbank.org
Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno
Counties Served: Fresno, Merced and Kern Counties
Contacts: Ashlee Wolf, Development Director
559-237-0851
www.ccdof.org
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
Madera County Food Bank
Counties Served: Madera County
Contact: Michelle Ruiz, Office Manager
559-674-1482
www.maderafoodbank.com
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
Merced County Food Bank
Counties Served: Merced County
Contacts Bill Gibbs, Executive Director
209-726-3663
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.mmcfb.org
Second Harvest Food Bank
Counties Served: San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties
Contact: Jessica Vaughn, Development Director
209-239-2091
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.localfoodbank.org
The Salvation Army – Tulare Corps
Counties Served: Tulare County
Contact: Lt. Yonathan Escobar, Corps Officer – Tulare
559-687-2520
Donation Preference: Online
www.tulare.salvationarmy.org/tulare_corps
Emergency Food Bank of Stockton and San Joaquin County
Counties Served: San Joaquin County
Contact: Leonard Hansen, CEO
209-464-7369
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.stocktonfoodbank.org
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Counties Served: Sacramento County
Contact: Melanie Flood, Director of Development
916-456-1980
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.sacramentofoodbank.org
Twin Lakes Food Bank
Counties Served: Sacramento County
Contact: Lisa Tuter, Executive Director
916-985-6263
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.twinlakesfoodbank.org
Placer Food Bank
Counties Served: Placer County
Contact: Lisa Heinrich, Director of Development
916-783-0481
Donation Preference: Online or check by mail
www.placerfoodbank.org
About Central Valley Community Bank
Central Valley Community Bancorp trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol CVCY. Central Valley Community Bank, headquartered in Fresno, California, was founded in 1979 and is the sole subsidiary of Central Valley Community Bancorp. Central Valley Community Bank operates 20 full-service offices throughout California’s San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento Region. Additionally, the Bank maintains Commercial Real Estate, Agribusiness and SBA Lending Departments. Central Valley Investment Services are provided by Raymond James Financial, Inc.
Members of Central Valley Community Bancorp’s and the Bank’s Board of Directors are: Daniel J. Doyle (Chairman), Daniel N. Cunningham (Vice Chairman), , F. T. “Tommy” Elliott, IV, James M. Ford, Robert J. Flautt, Gary D. Gall, Steven D. McDonald, Louis C. McMurray, Karen Musson, Dorothea D. Silva and William S. Smittcamp. Sidney B. Cox is Director Emeritus.
More information about Central Valley Community Bancorp and Central Valley Community Bank can be found at www.cvcb.com. Also, visit Central Valley Community Bank on Twitter and Facebook.
