Yolo Food Bank Volunteers. Photo courtesy of Yolo Food Bank

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - On March 28, Yolo Food Bank hosted its annual volunteer and donor appreciation event. This year’s theme was Warehouse Rodeo, and the event was sponsored by local business Perfect Union. The purpose of the event is to honor the community members who make significant contributions of time and funds to help Yolo Food Bank fulfill its mission to meet the food and nutrition needs of Yolo County.

Guests were invited to explore the warehouse on a self-guided tour, stopping at various booths to talk with Yolo Food Bank staff and answer trivia questions to learn about the work Yolo Food Bank does to serve the community. Lunch was catered by Ludy’s Barbecue and sides and sodas were provided by Sprouts. Attendees were also treated to the modern bluegrass stylings of local Winters band, Welcome West.

The Appreciation Event features a spoken program and annual awards ceremony. The Pallet Awards given at Yolo Food Bank’s Appreciation Event each year, highlight exceptional individuals who support the food bank’s mission in creative and bold ways. This year Yolo Food Bank honored the following community members.

Creative Collaborator Awards were presented to Shawn Devlin, board chair of the Kelly Foundation, and Fritz Durst, board member of River City Bank. Devlin was recognized for helping the food bank secure enough donated rice to supply recipients for a full year by leveraging purchased products. Durst was honored for facilitating partnerships with local rice farmers and mills, helping the organization meet a $75,000 matching gift goal in rice value.

The Outstanding Grocery Retailer Award went to the Davis Food Co-op, along with Ed Ochoa and Rocio Aguilar, for their support during the federal government shutdown last November, when the co-op contributed to emergency food distribution efforts.

Davis Food Co-op Award. Photo courtesy of Yolo Food Bank

The Innovative Investor Award was awarded to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and CEO Kerry Wood for funding key initiatives, including the Partner Agency Needs Assessment, Family Food Boxes and the Harvest Program.

The Food Security Ambassador Award was presented to Dr. Tico Zendejas of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency. Zendejas led emergency response efforts during the federal shutdown and partnered with the food bank to assist CalFresh recipients facing benefit delays.

Karen Baker and Dr. Tico Zendejas. Photo courtesy of Yolo Food Bank

The New Farm Partner Award was given to Alemaya Farm and Jonathan Wilcox of Guinda for contributing fresh produce to support local food distribution.

Several volunteers were also recognized. Jim Tanberg received the “MVP” (Most Valuable Presence) Award for his consistent service since joining last summer. Karen Ruan earned the Sunflower Spirit Award for her years of positivity and service before retiring earlier this year. Isabella “Bella” Rodriguez was honored with the Youth-Go-Getter Award for her enthusiasm and dedication over the past two years.

Bob Rennie received the inaugural Mapalo Spirit Award, named in honor of longtime volunteer Corkey Mapalo, recognizing his dedication, consistency and positive attitude as both a volunteer and donor.

Our Lifetime Achievement Award is reserved for volunteers who have completed 500 or more hours of service with the food bank. As a symbol of our gratitude, each Lifetime Achievement recipient received a custom jacket with their name on it, recognizing the incredible milestone they’ve reached and the impact they’ve made.

This Year’s recipients include Angelica Saragoza, Barbie Yates, Chelo Abrenilla, Frank Preus, Jim DeSanti, Kirsten Sellheim, Lucy Arellano, Lucy Steffens, Sandy Valdepena, Sondra Westphal, Steven Green, Terri Fong and Zakia Shahi Parsa.

Yolo Food Bank Lifetime Achievement Awardees. Photo courtesy of Yolo Food Bank

Yolo Food Bank’s work is sustained by its incredible donors and volunteers. The annual Appreciation Event is just a small token of the food bank’s gratitude for the tremendous support received from the community.

To learn more about Yolo Food Bank or to support their work, visit https://yolofoodbank.org/.