Copyright © 1989 - 2008 FREE the NEED.
San Francisco Food Day
by Amina Meyer Mousa
I have been volunteering with FREE the NEED for two years now, and It takes something to get there. Besides the 40 min drive over the Bay Bridge, the greater hurtle is getting my 2 yr old daughter, Aiesha, to sit in her car seat. But, rain or shine every Friday, 7 to 17 of us gather at a long driveway in San Francisco to assemble food into boxes, which a small crew then drive down to the Mission District to give away. Making the 60 -125 boxes takes a few hours and is totally fun, and what I get in return from the morning extends through out my week.
As a volunteer, I also get a food box, which has greatly increased the amount of fruit and veggies my family eats. OK coffee too, but how can I turn down a cup of Peet's? Some days, I return home to knock on my neighbors door with a bag of juicy pears in one hand and a loaf of bread in the other. She is a widow on a fixed income, so she really apprecates it. My other neighbor was going through cancer, and I would leave her a bag just to show her we were thinking of her. Then there is Roy, who sits in a wheelchair at the freeway entrance, whom I keep a little something on the passenger seat for, as it is a pleasure to care and give to people in my daily community.
It's rare that I go to the give away site, but a few days ago I became increasingly aware of my small part in supporting the hungry residents of San Francisco. This fall, several other food giving programs were saying that there is so much need this year, they were having to give meat away by lottery, and would be turning people away at Thanksgiving. I was able to say to my husband, "Well honey, we gave two turkeys to people though our cash donation to FREE the NEED this year", and that felt great. But, week to week, what volunteering really means is that I get to make the food boxes.
The kids and I pull up to the Joost house and Richard's quite warmth is my orientation. Empty boxes line up at attention, as does Bell and our team of volunteers. Soon after, Mallie, Ginger and Sven pull up in Tony's truck bringing the overflow surplus from the produce market. Once unloaded onto the sidewalk, there rests ready
gorgeous stacks and stacks of food.
First in the boxes goes the heavy items like potatoes, squash, melons, onions, cans of organic who knows what wonderful treasures Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Then things like tomatoes, bananas, strawberries, and oranges and even flowers, followed by an array of more delicate delectable's. And last but not least, an assortment of fabulous breads and coffee. Taking a step back during the procession of organized chaos, one can appreciate the colorful dance that ensues as spheres fly to form our food boxes, and hearing Naim, my 4 year old son, followed closely by his little sister as he gives the instruction, "One by one, Aiesha".
6th Annual Back-to-School
by Terry Goffinet
The fall is beautiful in Siskiyou County, the green pines, firs cedars and madrones stand even more majecstic as the oaks, alders and maples change to hues of yellow, orange and red and Mt.Shasta gets it's first white coat of cold, a preview to the winter wonderland that lies ahead. Like every where else in America, the coming of fall marks the beginning if a new school year. A time of year that hardships become more glaring, as families come to terms with how they can possibly afford to get everything their kids need for school.
Recognizing this need as an opportunity, FREE the NEED began a new chapter by introducing the Back-to-School Giveaway. A one-day free store to assist families in preparing their kids for school. Each year, volunteers collect new and good conditioned clothing, raised money to purchase school
supplies, and solicite for personal care items such as haircuts,
shampoo, toothbrushes and more.
Two years ago FREE the NEED decided to focus its efforts where
the need is the greatest, along the Klamath River and began raising money to
purchase new backpacks and socks. This year, Dakine was
generous enough to sell us quality backpacks for wholesale,
which the kids absolutely loved.
Although the isolated town of Happy Camp is less than an hour
away from the giveaway sight, many people could not afford to
travel that distance to be able to participate. As in previous
years, the families pooled their resources by collecting money to
pay for gas, and the owner of a van volunteered to pick up
supplies and clothing volunteers had boxed up for 50 youth.
Endeavors such as this are common in this rural area, where in
order to survive people must rely on one another in times of need.
This along with many other factors makes Siskiyou County such
a gratifying place to distribute our surplus.
FREE the NEED's goal for next year and future Back-to-School
Giveaway's is to provide all new clothing and to assist even more
families. Having new clothes for school and proper supplies
can turn the learning experience for many of our youth into a
positive one. It is education more than any other factor that is the
key to ending the cycle of poverty. Please contact FREE the
NEED if you know of any resources for surplus clothing for youth
of all ages and sizes.
Make a Contribution
FREE the NEED is supported by people like you, who donate their surplus time, money and love. We are currently raising money for the purchase of hams for our Christmas food boxes and for our 2009 operating costs. Please consider a cash donation if time or distance makes it that you may not contribute otherwise.
Donate by Credit Card or Pay Pal
OR send your check or money order to:
FREE the NEED
827 Joost Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94127
Something To Be Thankful For
With the success of distributing over 250 food boxs at our recent Thankgiving Giveaways, FREE the NEED has a lot to be thankful for. Each week, vendors at the South San Francisco Produce Market donate their surplus fresh produce that fills the bulk of our food boxes. Often times these are items that cannot be sold, but many times they generously give us their commercial grade produce. Trader Joes and Whole Foods fill the rest of our boxes leaving us with very few items to purchase from the San Francisco Food Bank. These vendors are why FREE the NEED volunteers are able to give food away at a little more than 4 cents a pound.
Ten years ago, Buffalo exchange became our main provider of clothing, and for the last 2 years Peekabootique has provided us with surplus children’s clothing and accessories. Many families, individuals and other vendors continue to donate their surplus clothing. Thanks to these contributions, our families now receive clothing every week, and the Back-to-School Giveaway has outfitted over 1000 children and teens for school.
Our Siskiyou County food program receives surplus from Rays Market, who also hosts our holiday food barrels along with Priceless Foods, who also gives a generous in store gift card for the holidays. Individuals and families
Interview with Ginger Testerman
by FREE the NEED
What do you like about food day?
I like going to the produce market and collecting food that would probably be
thrown away, taking the bounty, putting it into boxes and with in a few hours
giving it away.
What is a memory you have from food day from when you were
younger?
Besides running around and eating all the food? (laughs) Being in the Bayview and helping the volunteers sort and
bag vegetables, how happy they were and how much fun they were having.
How is volunteering different now that you are one of the people in charge?
I contribute a lot more. It's a part of my life, something I put into as opposed to something that was already happening and I just showed up.
What is your favorite thing to tell people about FREE the NEED?
When I am soliciting for donations and tell the person "Give until it feels good".
For more Back-to-School pictures visit our
Interview with Mallie Testerman
by FREE the NEED
What do you like about food day?
There's so many things. I like hanging out with the other volunteers, having
fun, putting fresh produce in the boxes and sharing our surplus.
What is a memory you have from food day from when you were
younger?
Sitting in front of a grocery bag full of factory reject fortune cookies I was
helping to bag up, and eating so many my stomach got full.
How is volunteering different now that you are one of the people in charge?
I get more out of it, enjoy it more, because I am responsible.
What is your favorite thing to tell people about FREE the NEED?
It's a fun thing to do!
FREE the NEED in Rural California
by Daisy Meyer
Siskiyou County (pronounced SISS-kyoo), is about as rural as California gets. Located in the northernmost part of the state in the Shasta Cascade region, it is host to the Marble Mountains, Klamath River and Mt. Shasta.
Prior to 1851, Siskiyou County was still primarily inhabited by the Shasta, Karuk, Yurok, Modoc and Hoopa Indians. After the discovery of gold near Yreka, thousands of prospectors flooded the area. Deadwood, California was a place Calamity Jane would have found herself right at home. Later, logging became the primary industry, and farming and fishing flourished with the prosperous forests and rivers.
Siskiyou County is the fifth largest county in California, and with a population of only 48,000 people, the head of cattle outnumber human residents by about 20,000. It is an area of substantial natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. However, the decline of logging and re-routing of water resources has been detrimental to the way of life here. Siskiyou County is now an area of great need.
Nearly half of the people in Siskiyou County reside in outlying communities far away from resources such as grocery stores, schools and job opportunities. Gas prices on average are 80 cents more per gallon than any where else in the state. The per capita annual income of Siskiyou county residents is $24,000, which is nearly 1/3 less than many other California counties. Over twenty percent of the people live below the poverty line. Many hardworking people, some who's families have been here for generations, are struggling to provide even the most basic necessities for their families.
Since 2001, FREE the NEED has distributed food boxes and clothing to families who live along the Klamath River, in Yreka and surrounding areas. In 2002, FREE the NEED sponsored the first Back-to-School Giveaway. Over time, FREE the NEED has become an integral part of life for the community. In this rural area where neighbors lend a helping hand when needed, new people show up to volunteer at each giveaway. Thanks to all the community support and donations FREE the NEED is able to reach more families in the area with each new year. This year, the program gave away 125 food boxes for Thanksgiving, including a 14 pound turkey, fresh dairy, produce and all the trimmings. Between the San Francisco and Siskiyou County food days, FREE the NEED gave away 250 Thanksgiving food boxes.
Thank you Siskiyou County... We look forward to next year!
Surplus and A New Generation
by Terry Goffinet and Sheri Testerman
Next June will mark the 20 year anniversary of FREE the NEED. Since June of 1989, FREE the NEED has been soliciting and collecting surplus food and clothing, and finding families in need to give it to. Over the years, various neighborhoods throughout San Francisco and Oakland have been host to our weekly food days and holiday giveaways, from the Tenderloin to the Bayview, the Mission, East Oakland and more. In 2001, we expanded to include Siskiyou County.
As we welcome in a new year, it's fun to reflect back on all the things that have made FREE the NEED a success: The vendors, individuals, families and foundations who have donated surplus goods and money, the volunteers who have donated their time and love, the families who have taken what they needed, and those who have fulfilled their own need and started giving to others, thereby experiencing their own surplus.
Having been in service for nearly 20 years has also brought us to a brand new milestone of success, the second generation of FREE the NEED. At one time, hardly old enough to crawl inside a food box on their own, Mallie and Ginger are now managing our programs in San Francisco.
Just like when FREE the NEED first started, they wake up early Friday morning and head to the produce market, soliciting many of the same friendly faces and some new ones for fresh produce. They organize volunteers to pick up at other locations, meet back at the house, spread out the boxes and fill them up, load them into the truck and give them away. They clean up, keep records, do pick ups through out the week, invite volunteers, hold fundraisers and take care of nearly 100 families every week, and they do it with style. Of course, you're invited to join them, every Friday... 9am. Just like the good ole days.
For more Thanksgiving pictures visit our
"Give until it feels good"
Dealing in Surplus
FREE the NEED was founded on the idea that there is enough of what people need to go around. By collecting surplus, we are have been able to free the need of the basic necessities of food and clothing for thousands of families. With these needs met, families can put their energy into pursuing a better life, getting an education, training for a better job, giving something better to their children, fulfilling their potential in a country that encourages us to dream.
Giving away surplus is working. Families who once considered them selves to be poor, and felt that they would never have enough, are now filled up and find themselves with surplus they in turn are able to give to others. In this they experience the joy in helping others, freedom from worry, and time to make something better for themselves, their families, and their children. All because of the many "someones" had a little left over, called it surplus, and passed it along, the chain of poverty is being broken. Thank you for donating your surplus time, money and love.
Happy Holidays from FREE the NEED!
Break the Chain. Spread the Surplus.
FREE the NEED.
FREE the NEED.Visit the FREE the NEED Website
fill these barrels with items for Thankgiving and Christmas, and Safeway in both Medford and San Francisco every year find a way to supply us with turkeys to purchase whether it be 50 or 250. There are the people and foundations such as the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and Walmart, that provide FREE the NEED with cash grants and donations to meet our over head, turkey and school supply costs. Then there are the people and businesses who donate to and attend our fundraisers, bid on auction items or simply fill out a check. And last but not least, those who show up to food day and do the heavy lifting.
To everyone who has donated to FREE the NEED this year, you are the reason we give away tens of thousands of pounds of food and clothing each year. You are the reason we take care of so many families that say, “I don’t know what we would do with out our weekly food box.” To all of you, the families say thank you.
Myself, children, and friends the lifters, movers, and sorters among all that abundant generosity. A dance that finishes with the boxes full of nourishment. Real food that will inspire the cook, that will lighten the load of the breadwinner, and grow little bodies with vitamins straight from fresh and wholesome, real food like blueberries and red peppers, corn, potatoes and salad.
Though the gratitude that I feel that is less tangible, is just as nourshing to my spirit as the food is to my body. It has traveled a long journey from seed and dirt. With just a leaf ot two removed, or a few rotten oranges pulled out and dumped into the compost. This beautiful food that would have been otherwise thrown out, has the chance to be human energy for a time. I think the farmer would be grateful that his work will not just decompose and revitalize the soil. That he or she gets to nourish people with slow food, and I am on the team of people who move all the surplus on to those who need it. "Next Friday? Oh yeah, I'll be there"
