What a year it has been for Yolo Food Bank! From building new programs and exciting events to strengthening partnerships within Yolo County, we have been hard at work evolving to better serve our community. As we come to the end of 2024, it is a great time to reflect on all the ways we have made an impact. And what better way than by going to the people who are behind the scenes every single day: the Yolo Food Bank staff.
OUR PROGRAMS
This year we continued to find new approaches to reaching neighbors facing food insecurity in Yolo County. From harvesting food at our local farms and picking up food donations from our partners to packing and distributing it across the county, our programs continue to make a huge impact this year – delivering over 9.6 million pounds of food and providing our neighbors with a sense of support and community.
Whitney Grunwald, Programs Manager
“There have been many amazing, great and new things that have happened this year – it is hard to pick one favorite memory. From establishing Cultivo as a new program that served about 550 agriculture workers in Yolo County in a short 6-month span, to starting our partnership with Washington Unified School District Community Schools and serving WUSD families in West Sacramento, we have expanded our reach to new demographics all throughout Yolo County.”
Brittany Cornejo, Creative Services Manager
“The launch of Cultivo has been especially inspiring to me. My grandfather came to the U.S. through the Bracero Program, so it is dear to my heart to see Yolo Food Bank helping to put healthy food on the table for those in the agricultural industry that put food on the table for us. Not only is Yolo Food Bank taking action on the critical needs discovered through the Yolo County Food Access Survey, but it is helping so many families, single parents, and children.”
Julia Kennon, Programs Coordinator
“One of my most cherished memories this year is conducting a Harvest with the UC Davis Student Farm. As an alumnus, it was beautiful to connect our volunteers with students through a mutual cause and working with the land. Supporting our local farmers and fostering a cyclical food system that includes harvest, packing, and distribution within Yolo Food Bank is one of my truest passions.”
OUR COMMUNITY
The Yolo County community is such a special place. Here, we lend a helping hand when we can and support each other when we see a need. Even when Yolo Food Bank faced our own adversity this year, there were people willing to step up and get involved. Whether it is the dedication and support of volunteers and donors at Yolo Food Bank, or the connections made with community members at partner events and food distributions, the relationships we build stand out to everyone who works at Yolo Food Bank.
Jasmine Osorio, Office Assistant
“My favorite memory this year would be the Holiday Food Distribution. I got to pre-register almost 500 people from Woodland, meaning 500 families – that’s 2,085 individuals who received a holiday meal kit for Thanksgiving. It was an unforgettable experience seeing the way they knew me and were so thankful for us to be able to provide them with a Thanksgiving dinner.”
Alex Simmons, Grant Manager
“It was really fun participating in Communicare’s Dia de los Muertos celebration to pass out produce from the food bank and enjoy the fun! They had a beautiful ofrenda in the community garden there, and I thought that was really special.”
Chuy Vargas, Partner Agency Store Lead
“When the fire happened at our warehouse I thought it was really special how we all came together to respond. No one hesitated and we all tried to help in whatever way we could in the moment. After the fire was out it was great to see the staff and the community pull through and respond. You could really feel the community’s support.”
Yovani Franco, Bookkeeper
“One thing that stands out and that I enjoyed was participating in the Holiday Food Distribution. I had not planned on participating in the Distribution, but I asked if I could help in the middle of the event and I was happy to be able to lend a hand. I spend most of my time behind a computer with bookkeeping, so it was nice to get more actively involved and see the faces of the people that Yolo Food Bank impacts.”
OUR EVENTS
Our events in 2024 were a wonderful way to gather Yolo Food Bank supporters in one place to connect with our work. We kicked off the year with our “Night at the Warehouse” appreciation event, uniting financial donors, food donors, and volunteers. Summer brought a sold-out 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, a clear favorite! In the fall, 2024 Global Rice Fest was another unforgettable celebration. We closed the year with Yolo Gives & Gathers, providing Thanksgiving meal kits to over 2,200 families.
Christen Brunner, Development Officer
“I enjoyed being a part of our events and connecting with our diverse and compassionate community of supporters, from donors to volunteers to community partners.”
Andrea Aponte, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
“One of my favorite memories this year was the appreciation event held this past April. The tour set up for the event was interactive, and it was nice to see so many food bank supporters all in one space. It was a great opportunity for me to meet more volunteers, as well as learn the stories of how folks became involved with Yolo Food Bank, whether as donors or volunteers.”
Alexander Lara, Warehouse Associate
“My favorite memory from this year was the Rice Fest. I loved the energy of everyone working together and seeing everyone have a good time together. I enjoyed helping out anywhere the event needed me. It was a fun event to be part of.”
LOOKING AHEAD
In 2025 we will continue to focus on serving our community and strengthening the food safety net in Yolo County. We face new challenges in the year ahead, but we have big hopes for the coming year and a vision of what we can accomplish together with the help of our volunteers, donors, staff, and partners!
Sheryl Sullivan, Director of Accounting
“In 2025 I hope that we continue to see the support from our community that we have seen through the years by their generous donations. I also hope that we continue to receive the grants we need in order to meet the needs of the people that we support here in Yolo County.”
Corkey Mapalo, Director of Operations
“My hope is that we engage even more farmers to donate extra crops to Yolo Food Bank to help our community access fresh produce.”
Maria Segoviano, Director of Development and Communications
“I’m hopeful as we head into 2025, knowing how deeply our community cares about nourishing their most vulnerable neighbors in Yolo County. The recent loss of Amazon as one of our largest food donors and the conclusion of critical pandemic-related funding, including the American Rescue Plan, have left us with a significant financial gap to fill. But I’ve seen Yolo County show up for us in a big way before. I’m confident we can rise to the challenge once more to ensure everyone has access to the food they deserve.”
Genevieve Pyeatt, Director of Programs
“My hope for 2025 is to continue to serve our food insecure neighbors with a variety of food items throughout the year, especially locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. We will be referencing data from our county wide survey to inform our decisions on where our food distributions are located and how we can efficiently get the most food into the households that need it most. I also look forward to exploring ways to collaborate and connect with our community partners to leverage our common goal of feeding those that are food insecure in Yolo County. “
FOSTERING THE MAGIC
One thing is certain, Yolo County is a very special place! Everyone has a part in the success of Yolo Food Bank’s mission – that’s what makes this county so magical and gives us so much hope for the future!
Karen Baker, Executive Director
“My hope for 2025 is to continue nurturing the “magic” of Yolo County! We are lucky to have neighbors that step up to help each other every chance they get. Our incredible 1,900 volunteers work year-round to pack and distribute food, transforming lives with every effort. Passionate partner agencies utilize our Sutter Health Partner Agency Store to ensure their communities receive the nourishment they need. Local farmers and food partners contribute much-needed produce and dry goods, while our generous donors provide the vital resources to sustain and expand our operations. And at the heart of it all, our dedicated staff remains committed to their service to those in need.”
