RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The revered Cordova Community Food Locker, which has been feeding hungry Rancho Cordovans for 33 years, is unveiling a new name, new logo, new website and new attitude – but the critical mission hasn’t changed.

Now known as the Rancho Cordova Food Locker, the longtime volunteer-driven emergency food pantry has incorporated into an IRS-sanctioned non-profit organization, which means donations made to the food locker are tax-deductible. 

While remaining true to its roots, the updated organization came out swinging Nov. 2 as it officially unveils its new look with food and donation drives to address need in the community throughout the holiday season.

“We have a new look, but our heart is still dedicated to the mission begun way back in 1987 – to provide a safety net for people in our community who are hungry,” said Walter Little, who is a founder of the food locker and serves as chairman of a newly-created board of directors. “Our new slogan – ‘Fighting Hunger. Feeding Hope’ – pretty much says it all.”

The Rancho Cordova Food Locker was founded in 1987 when 13 churches came together to create and provide volunteer support for a community-based food pantry.  Early supporters included St. John Vianney Church, which offered a 60-foot trailer and walk-in refrigeration unit, and to this day provides a home for the food locker. The change moves the Rancho Cordova Food Locker from a parish-based operation to a community-based operation and Catholic Charities Member Agency serving the Rancho Cordova community.

Today, Rancho Cordova Food Locker is the largest USDA food distribution site in the east Sacramento area and a federally designated disaster response site. While 1,500 individuals per month received food supplies when the food locker first opened, that number has grown to 4,000 people each month – providing an astounding 17 million meals over the life of the organization. 

Bolstered by food donations from Sacramento Food Bank Services and donors like Safeway, Raley’s/Bel-Air and Grocery Outlet, the 30 volunteers who power the Rancho Cordova Food Locker are kept busy stocking and emptying the shelves for clients in their location at 10497 Coloma Road on the campus of St. John Vianney Church. The City of Rancho Cordova has also supported the food locker mission, providing gap funding to assure the organization is ready when need arises.  Open from 9:30 to 1:20 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the food locker is visited by over 300 families a week.

“We have established many strong partners over the years, and we have always been able to rise to challenges in Rancho Cordova,” Little said.  “We believe the changes we are making will leave us stronger than ever.”

With a new website, upgraded technology and modernized structure, food locker organizers hope to boost community impact and be in a stronger position when unexpected needs arise, such as what occurred with the corona virus pandemic.

Emerging as a leader in emergency food response during the crisis, the Rancho Cordova Food Locker quickly shifted to drive-thru food distribution to keep volunteers and clients at a safe social distance.  Even while that challenge continues, the annual effort to provide the ingredients of a nutritious holiday meal to anyone in need has arrived.

Therefore, in addition to unveiling their new logo, the Rancho Cordova Food Locker is celebrating their reorganization during the month of November with food drives and traditional holiday distributions which kick off soon.  Here is the schedule:

Nov. 2 through Nov. 22:  The annual Food Locker Turkey Drive collects turkeys and cash donations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily to support the Thanksgiving Food Locker Feast for the needy, scheduled for Nov. 23.

Nov. 7:  Oh, baby! Drop off baby food and diapers from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 during a special drive-in partnership with the Rancho Cordova Rotary Club, organized to meet the special needs of families of infants.

Nov. 14:  Turkey Drive from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. sponsored by Ron Belka and Julie Hagan Belka.

Nov. 21:  Turkey Drive from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. sponsored by the Rancho Cordova Food Locker.

Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Giveaway from 9:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. This is a vehicle-based distribution with COVID restrictions in place and no walk-ins permitted. Families will receive ingredients for a complete Thanksgiving day feast, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Food Locker Program Manager Linda Condon said the operation is always in need of dedicated volunteers, and online monetary donations, tax-deductible and streamlined through the website and Facebook, help amplify the impact.  “We need it all, and are always looking for more help,” she said.

To learn more about the Rancho Cordova Food Locker, make a donation, volunteer or get information on how to host a food drive, visit ranchocordovafoodlocker.org.