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Tag: Sunrise Christian Food Ministry

  • Citrus Heights food bank sees long lines for Thanksgiving meal distribution

    Citrus Heights food bank sees long lines for Thanksgiving meal distribution

    Volunteers work the four-lane drive through, registering recipients and loading vehicles with thanksgiving dinners on Nov. 17, 2022. // M. Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip—
    Long lines of vehicles could be seen on San Juan Avenue last week for the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry’s annual Thanksgiving dinner distribution.

    As part of the greater Sacramento food bank network, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry works with local grocery stores to offer a full Thanksgiving meal to community members who might not otherwise be able to afford one.

    Sunrise Christian Food Ministry worker Jacob Chow said each individual received a turkey, with many families also receiving a full meal, but Chow during the event said some supplies may not last the duration of the two-day event.

    From Nov. 17-18, volunteers from various businesses and community organizations worked to move traffic through the four-lane drive-through distribution, verifying names and loading trunks with food.

    As 11 a.m. on the first day of the distribution, Chow said he estimated “at least a thousand” vehicles had already come through.

    The distribution was held at Advent Lutheran Church at 5901 San Juan Ave., and vehicles backed up onto San Juan Avenue as far as Sperry Drive, prompting a response from the Citrus Heights Police Department to aid with traffic.

    Chow said the organization has seen an increase with each year they offer the meals, something he attributes to current economic factors.

    “What we’ve noticed is the amount of people that we help, that we take in as new clients per week has increased,” Chow said. “With the economic situation, with inflation, with all that’s happening economically of course, it’s hard to predict how this year would go.”

    People receiving food are required to be registered with the food bank network, Chow said. Those registered with other food banks are sent away to receive a similar meal at those locations, he said. Some individuals and families are registered at the event.

    This is the first year the ministry has organized the event since the retirement of board president Rocky Peterson. The distribution grew under Peterson’s leadership, expanding facilities, volunteers, and adding a new freezer storage space.

    Food comes from local grocery stores such as Safeway, Raley’s, Sam’s, Costco, FoodMax, and Grocery Outlet, with the bulk of items coming from the Sacramento Food Bank, Chow said.

    The Sentinel previously reported Sunrise Christian Food Ministry saw a significant increase in demand over the past two years. In a March 2022 update, the organization said almost 8,000 households received food since March 2020.

  • Citrus Heights food closet welcomes home-grown donations

    Cars line up for a “drive-thru” food drive in Citrus Heights outside Advent Lutheran Church on March 28. // CH Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    If you’ve got some extra oranges growing on your trees, the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry says it could use it — along with other canned or packaged food donations.

    The local food closet, which operates out of a building behind Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights, has been faced with increased demand from those seeking emergency food supplies during coronavirus mitigation efforts that have led to lay-offs and non-essential employees staying at home without work.

    Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 5901 San Juan Ave., according to Dustin DeVriend, associate pastor of Christ Community Church in Carmichael, whose church partners with the food closet. He said healthy volunteers are also being sought.

    DeVriend said Friday that about 30 percent of the people coming to the food closet for supplies are “first-timers, mostly people who have been laid off.”

    On March 28, the food closet hosted its first-ever “drive-thru” food drive, which infused its supplies with about a week-and-a-half of food. However, DeVriend said the ministry is still facing difficulties getting pallets of canned goods from grocers and the Sacramento Food Bank, which are low on stock.

    According to the organization’s website, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry was founded in 1983 as an ecumenical effort supported by several dozen churches, organizations and individuals. The ministry’s mission is “to provide five days of nutritionally balanced food supplies to each person every 30 days when an emergency occurs.”

    The food closet’s posted hours are 11:30 a.m to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    Rocky Peterson, director of the local food closet, said food is made available to those in need anywhere in Sacramento County. He said recipients are asked for a picture ID and a current piece of mail for demographic purposes.

    The food closet is located at 5901 San Juan Ave. Additional information can be found at sunrisechristianfoodministry.org.

  • Citrus Heights food ministry hosting donation drive to boost low supplies

    Citrus Heights food ministry hosting donation drive to boost low supplies

    Sunrise Christian Food Ministry is located behind Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights, at 5901 San Juan Ave. // CH Sentinel

    Sentinel staff report–
    The Sunrise Christian Food Ministry is putting out an urgent call for food donations, as the nonprofit struggles to keep up with a significant increase in families requesting emergency food assistance.

    The ministry is hosting a two-hour drive-thru food drive in the parking lot of Advent Lutheran Church at 5901 San Juan Ave., this Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon.

    “Please help your neighbors who are struggling and out of work and give what you can,” the ministry posted on their Facebook page on Tuesday. “Even a little bit will help.”

    Items requested include canned meats like tuna and chicken, as well as peanut butter, fresh produce, toiletries and canned fruits, vegetables, and soups.

    Rocky Peterson, director of the local food closet, told The Sentinel he’s seen a “significant increase in demand for food for hurting families” recently, with nearly twice the number of families coming each day for supplies. He said an average day used to see 75-80 families served, while that has now increased to 120-130 families.

    Dustin DeVriend, an associate pastor at Christ Community Church who partners with the food closet to help with volunteers and supplies, said he expects demand to continue to increase, as more people are laid off or have their hours cut during shelter-in-place orders.

    This new nonprofit is helping in-need students get shoes in Citrus Heights

    DeVriend said the local food closet is low on supplies due not only to increased demand from those in need, but also from store shelves being empty — which has resulted in less left-over foods being donated by grocery stores to the food closet. He also said the ministry has had its orders for pallets of canned and dry goods not be fulfilled, due to suppliers being out of stock.

    Volunteers are also being sought, as many of those who regularly volunteer are over age 65 and not able to assist due to heightened health risks associated with the coronavirus. A list of volunteer opportunities is posted on the ministry’s website, including pickup of surplus items from various grocery stores and staffing opportunities for distribution.

    The food closet’s posted hours are 11:30 a.m to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, but Peterson said the closet has now been opening around 10 a.m. to keep up with demand.

    Peterson said Sunrise Christian Food Ministry is open to those in need anywhere in Sacramento County. He said recipients are asked for a picture ID and a current piece of mail for demographic purposes.

    According to the ministry’s website, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry was founded in 1983 and is an ecumenical effort supported by several dozen churches, organizations and individuals. The organization’s mission is “to provide five days of nutritionally balanced food supplies to each person every 30 days when an emergency occurs.”

    The food closet is located behind Advent Lutheran Church, at 5901 San Juan Ave. Additional information is posted at sunrisechristianfoodministry.org.

    Also on The Sentinel: new local ministry serves homeless, poor by washing clothes

  • The Civic Minute: What’s happening at Citrus Heights city hall? (Oct. 26)

    The Civic Minute: What’s happening at Citrus Heights city hall? (Oct. 26)

    Updated Oct. 25, 10:55 p.m.–
    Liquor licenses. Public hearings. Police salaries. Debt policy. Those are some topics on the agenda for the Citrus Heights city council’s upcoming Oct. 26 council meeting. Here’s a brief summary of what’s on schedule, followed by vote highlights from the Oct. 12 council meeting:

    COUNCIL STUDY SESSION: The city council will hear and discuss reports from city staff on city awareness/promotion campaign results, as well as results from a community survey.

    PRESENTATIONS:

    • Police dispatcher award: The Northern California Chapter of Association of Public Safety Communications Officials will present their Telecommunicator of the Year Award.
    • Homeless Navigator Program: The League of California Cities will present its 2017 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence to the City of Citrus Heights for its navigator program to serve the homeless. The program is credited with reducing homelessness in Citrus Heights. (Learn more)
    • Holiday Referral Program: A presentation will be made about the Citrus Heights Police Department’s 9th annual Holiday Referral Program, which benefits children and families in need during the holiday season.
    • Water rate increase: The Citrus Heights Water District will make a presentation regarding a proposed water rate increase. A public hearing will also be held on Nov. 8th.

    PUBLIC HEARINGS:

    • Liquor license: The Food Maxx store at 6982 Sunrise Blvd. is seeking to change its existing alcohol license to allow for the sale of distilled spirits, in addition to beer and wine currently sold at the location. A public hearing will be held on whether to approve a “Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity,” which the store must obtain before a license can be issued. A number of community members submitted emails opposing the license upgrade, while city staff and police recommend the council allow a license to be issued.
    • Grant Funding: A public hearing will be held on how $589,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funding will be allocated in Citrus Heights. A draft distribution of funds would send $383,000 to the Citywide Accessibility Improvement Project, $118,000 to program administration, and the remaining 15 percent to seven community organizations. Proposed organizations to benefit from the funds are: A Community for Peace, Campus Life Connections, Crossroads Diversified Services, Meals on Wheels, Sacramento Self Help Housing, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, and Terra Nova Counseling.

    ITEMS OF NOTE:

    • Police salaries/benefits: The council will consider approving a 3-year agreement with the Citrus Heights Police Officers Association that includes a 2% salary increase for CHPOA members and a $100 increase in the monthly maximum paid by the city for health insurance premiums.
    • Debt policy: The city manager’s office is recommending the council adopt a proposed debt policy. Although Citrus Heights has long-prided itself in being a city with no debt, the recommendation seeks to have the city establish a 12-page debt policy based on SB 1029, a recently passed state law which effectively requires cities to have a debt policy in place 30-days prior to taking on debt.

    The city council will meet at 7 p.m. at 6360 Fountain Square Dr., with a study session at 5 p.m. immediately preceding the meeting. The full agenda packet can be viewed by clicking here.

    VOTE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCT. 12 COUNCIL MEETING:
    *Note: votes listed are based on the city clerk’s draft meeting minutes.

    Present: Mayor Jeff Slowey, Jeannie Bruins, Bret Daniels, Albert Fox, Steve Miller
    Meeting length: 1 hour 49 minutes.

    • Transportation funds (Consent, 5-0). The council approved a Transportation Development Act funding claim authorization, enabling the city to claim $3.75 million for fiscal year 2017-18.
    • Repeal and replace History & Arts program (Regular, 5-0). The council voted to approve a resolution repealing provisions in the city code for the Citrus Heights History & Arts Commission and replacing it with a competitive grant program for funding arts and history-related projects in the city. A second reading is scheduled for the council’s Oct. 26 meeting as a consent action.
    • City executive payrates and classifications (Regular, 5-0).  The council approved a pair of executive management classifications and salary ranges for two positions. Positions are: assistant city manager (pay range: $157,000-$208,000), and community services director ($150,000-$198,000).

    *Note: in the interest of fostering civic awareness and participation, The Sentinel now features this bi-weekly summary of upcoming council meetings, along with a short update of noteworthy votes taken during the most recent council meeting.