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Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes

FOOD + LOVE: Nourishing Community
Valentine’s Day February 14, 2018

On Valentine’s Day, Pantry Coordinator Jeanette Arias and the volunteer kitchen crew prepared a special lunch of Chicken & Beef Burritos, mixed veggies, potato salad, and mixed green salad which was served to over 100 people. With both Operations Manager Cecilia Cervantes and Kitchen Manager Maria Gonzalez out on unavoidable leaves of absence and Chef Patrick Sigler out of town, Jeannette really stepped up to the plate by making a delicious meal using her own burrito and salsa recipes. We would also like to thank Cabrillo Culinary Student Rosine Enloe for her work. We are so lucky to work with such an amazing group of staff, volunteers and community supporters! We couldn’t do this without you!

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Our lunch program runs Monday – Friday year-round including

holidays. We prepare and serve a free, hot lunch complete with high-quality protein, hearty grains, fresh vegetables, salad and fruit to up to 150 people daily. We serve farm workers, elderly, disabled, homeless individuals, veterans, and families with children through our lunch program.

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From July to December 2017, we served 12,500 lunches and 2,258 second helpings to 3,375 local hungry residents in need.

Our Lunch Program creates community by welcoming all to share food and fellowship in an open and accepting environment.

Forward

What's Inside

Pantry Program Increases Distribution
Solar Panels Installed
We Appreciate Your Support …
Honorary and Memorial Gifts
Board President's Message to Our Supporters
Ways to Support Our Work
Volunteer Opportunities

Make a Gift

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Website

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Upcoming Events

Lupulo Craft Beer House
March 20, 2018
5:00PM – 9:00PM
Discretion Brewery
April 30, 2018
5:00PM – 9:00PM
Spring Reception
PVLF
May 17, 2018
4:00PM – 7:00PM

Wish List

Hygiene Kit Items: New Pairs of Socks, Razors, Soap, Toothbrushes, and Toothpaste
Needed Foods:
- Canned Chili, Stews, and Soups
- Ready-to-eat and pop-top canned goods
- Protein bars

Pantry Program Increases Distribution

Starting this February, the Pantry Program increased the amount of food distributed to each visitor by 60%. This means that each person served by the pantry receives approximately 10,000 calories per visit. Pantry clients receive fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, and non-perishable staple foods such as pinto beans, rice, oatmeal, pasta, peanut butter, tuna and other canned goods. Families and individuals receive nutritious groceries up to twice per month.

July – December '17, we had 4,062 pantry visits serving 12,239 individuals.

74% are Watsonville Residents
41% are children
77% live below federal poverty level

We would like to thank everyone who has worked on this project including Second Harvest Food Bank, Pantry Coordinator Jeannette Arias, volunteers who assist in the pantry, especially Corrine Flanagan, and local organic farms for making this possible.

PANTRY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
With the abundance of food we are giving the community, there are opportunities for volunteers in the pantry. We are especially in need of afternoon volunteers who are able to lift up to 30 pounds repeatedly.

Monday – Friday
8:30AM – 12:30PM or 12:30PM – 4:30PM
Please contact Cecilia Cervantes at volunteer@pvloavesandfishes.org 831 319-4571

Feed Our Community

Solar Panels Installed

Thanks to generous donations in 2017, Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes installed solar panels on the Solari House in January 2018 (pictured above). Storing and distributing over 370,000 pounds of food each year takes a lot of energy! Using energy efficient appliances and solar panels are sustainable practices which help us conserve resources.

This means that we can better serve the community with nutritious food and have a positive impact on the environment at the same time.

We would especially like to thank Board Member Ram Tipton, Board Member Lawrence Laslett, Executive Director Joann Godoy and Sandbar Solar for completing the installation.

We Appreciate Your Support …

George & Marjorie Alfs, Greg Caput,
Charlotte Colavin, Lin Colavin, Rosalind Hastings, John &
Cheryl Henriksen, Peter & Anne Meehan,
Bill Monning, Elizabeth & William Nowicki,
Mark & Laurie Scurich, Thomas & Bonnie Sprague,
Richard & Sheri Watson-Riley

Greg Crandall, George Dymesich, Corrine and Rich Flanagan,
Joann and Marc Godoy, Dean Gottehrer, Paul & Donna
Lauesen, Felicita Rasul, Ruth Rosewall, Sheldon Satnick,
Loren Staley

Martin Barron, Kathleen Caffall, Robert & Esther Donovan,
Nancy Eaton, Darrell Holford, Lawrence Laslett,
Joseph & Delores Rodriguez, Brooke Sampson

Michal & Nan Archer, Lisa Angel, Sharon Avery, Suzan Barazza,
Lois & Philip Bookman, James & Evelyn Borrego, Ken Braly,
Lori & Jack Burkett, Barbara Burt, Roy Capaldo, John Castsneda,
Lino Ceballos, Jan Charles & Chris Jones, James Clark, Margaret
Claxon, Janice Cockren, Joseph Cozzi, Jane Crowley, William & Linda
Desler, Lawrence & Maryellen Dick, Candice Elliott, Kim Estrada, Eileen
Fegar, Paul Fleischman, Kathleen Founds, Michael Fox, Rebecca Garcia,
Charles & Karen Greenleaf, Marc Grossman,
Ann Guthrie, Sue Halloran, Masaru & Marcia Hashimoto, Carol Heitzig,
Steven & Leslie Henderson, Kevin Heuer, Marylin Hyde, Gail Innes,
James Ivelich, Ann Iverson, Louis & Janice Jemson, Nancy Jevons,
Julia Johnson, Audrey Kim, Jan Kolar, Paul Lapidus,
Paula & Rusty Leffel, Robert & Nancy Ley, Richard Lynde,
Rebecca & Blaine Lynn, Kristen Marinovic, Robert Mayeda,
Saun & Mary McClellan,, Barbara Murray, Gertrude Nagal,
Matthew Nathanson, Stan & Judith Nielson, Eiko Nishihara,
Michael & Ursula O’Farrell, Kristin Olafson, Margaret Paylow,
Jonathan Pilch, Jesse & Marcela Plascencia, Rudy Ortega, Susan
Renison, David Reyes, Tony Robinson,
Maria Theresa & Juan Rodriguez, Thomas Rowland, Anthony Rubio,
Mary Rudd, Tom & Frannie Sak, Jane Salm, Greta Salmi, Ron Sandidge,
Thomas Starkey, William and Jaqueline Sterling, Billie Trawle,
Ellen Vogt, Peggy Volkmann, Richard & Elaine Wadsworth, Mike Watts,
Jon & Jill Winston, Judith Wolf, Casey Wu, Lyn Zhao, Douglas Zumbiel

… during this Winter season!

An additional "big thanks" to these community organizations …

AAA, Apple Lane Foundation, Ballenger Spar Systems,
California Giant, CISCO International, City of Watsonville,
Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County,
County of Santa Cruz, Driscolls, El Pajaro YLI, Grocery Outlet,
Holy Eucharist Church, Imura Restaurant, Intel,
Lakeside Organic Gardens, La Selva Beach Community Church,
McGee Family Fund, Morgan Stanley, NALC Branch 857,
Nicholson Family Foundation, Pour Tap Room, Santa Fe Mercados
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, St. Patricks Church
and Sweet Darling

Honorary and Memorial Gifts

Honor a friend or loved one with a gift to Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes.
Your donation will provide nutritious food to local community members in need, and your honoree will be recognized in our e-newsletter and receive an acknowledgment by mail.
This is also a thoughtful gift for the PVLF supporter in your life!
Donations can be mailed to us at 150 Second Street, Watsonville CA, 95076, or made through our website.

Board President's Message to Our Supporters

This Valentine’s Day I spent the afternoon at Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes preparing food, serving lunch, and helping out in the pantry.

When I arrived Jeannette was working with the kitchen team to prepare lunch for over 100 people. Corrine and a volunteer were helping clients in the pantry. Casey Wu, one of our board members, helped serve lunch. It was clear that everyone cared deeply about the work that they were doing to alleviate hunger, create a sense of fellowship, and support the community.

One of the reasons I love this organization is the feeling of home that I experience each and every time I visit. I encourage you to serve with us if you can fit it into your schedule. I hope to see you soon!

If you are not available to serve with us, please consider setting up a small monthly donation. By contributing $10, $20 or $40 a month you will support health and vitality in our community by helping us serve nutritious food and pay fair wages. For more information on ways to make a contribution, see below.

Thank you for your continued support!

— Candice Elliott

Ways to Support Our Work

Donate Visit pvloavesandfishes.org/donate to make your tax-deductible donation with your checking account, credit card, or online bill pay. You can make one-time or recurring gifts through our website.

Mail Give the gift of nourishment to those in need. Mail your tax-deductible donation to Pajaro Valley Loaves & Fishes, 150 2nd St, Watsonville, CA 95076.

Volunteer Volunteers assist us daily, stocking the pantry, preparing food, and maintaining our facility. To get involved, call (831) 319-4571 or email volunteer@pvloavesandfishes.org

Follow Us Check us out online to see what’s happening at PVLF! We share our story on Instagram. You can find us @pvloavesandfishes. We also share our upcoming events on Facebook.

Volunteer Opportunities

Turn your compassion into action.
Take a look at our opportunities and find where you can help!

Pantry Assistants

Mon – Fri 9:00am – 11:30am
1:00pm – 4:00pm

Kitchen Assistants
Mon – Fri 9:00am – 11:00am
1:00pm – 4:00pm

Lunch Service
Mon – Fri 11:30am – 1:30pm

Operations & Facilities
Mon – Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm
Tues 1:00 – 2:30pm Receive and store weekly food delivery

831 319-4571 or
volunteer@pvloavesandfishes.org