To the Editor:
As we kick off the 39th Annual Ukiah Daily Journal Holiday Food Bank Drive, I believe 2025 may be the food bank’s most challenging year. The elimination of federally funded food programs, increased food costs, and a growing demand for services has thrust Ford Street Project into re-budgeting mode. Currently, it costs $550,000 a year to operate the Food Bank. In January, to maintain our weekly delivery from Redwood Empire Food Bank, we will pay a $2,000 a month trucking charge and an additional $1,000 for food. This brings our annual cost to operate the food bank to $586,000. The UDJ Fundraising effort has always been the primary source of funding for the food bank. Beginning in 2011, Ford Street began making in-kind donations to help with budget shortfall.
Six years ago, Ford Street’s in-kind contribution was $36,000 annually and that has grown to $96,000 annually for the last two years. I believe it is important for the community to understand, revenue from Ford Street Project’s Ukiah Recovery Center’s residential treatment program and rent revenue from Unity Village Housing Program have been sustaining the Food Bank for years. Literally the largest individual contributor to the Food Bank is Ford Street Project.
This year’s UDJ Fundraising goal is $200,000, and we have received commitments from our Kick-0ff Donors for over $107,000. We appreciate Mendocino County Social Services’ monthly contribution of $850, as well.
We are lucky to live in California where so much food is grown, and farmers are supportive of serving food banks. Redwood Empire Food Bank, Mendo Food Hub in Willits and the California Food Bank Association are working to help minimize the impact of the loss of federal funding, but this will be challenging with our growing need. Last year we provided 375 Thanksgiving boxes and on Nov. 24 we provided 590 boxes to our neighbors in need.
We live in a generous community. The disruption in Cal Fresh benefits caused by the government shutdown spawned small food bank canned food drives all over, like the students of Pomolita who donated food as a part of a food bank drive organized by Pomolita’s WEB leaders.
The UDJ Drive begins today, Sunday, Nov. 30. Please donate to the Ford Street Project, 139 Ford Street, Ukiah CA 95482, or donate online, www.fordstreet.org
Ford Street is a 501c3 non-profit corporation, Tax I D 94-2767559
With gratitude, Jacqueline Williams, Executive Director
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