Marin Food Bank Volunteers Fight Hunger Amid Coronavirus

MARIN COUNTY, CA — When Dulce Gomez immigrated to the United States from Mexico, she said it was the kindness of others that helped her transition to a new life.

Now at a time when many around her are feeling the hurt from the coronavirus crisis' economic impact, Gomez is determined to pay it forward.

The San Francisco woman is doing what she can to help others amid the Coronavirus crisis as a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank volunteer.

"I feel there are a lot of people who need help and anyone who is available should do it," Gomez said. "I've always had people helping me and now it's my turn to return it back to people."

Gomez serves multiple roles at the Food Bank. She checks in fellow volunteer drivers and helps load their vehicles, bags groceries, and delivers food to those in need herself. Sometimes she enlists the help of her 13-year-old son Luis.

To hear her tell it, it doesn't really sound much like work.

"I really enjoy it, it makes my heart feel like I'm doing something good for me and for somebody else," Gomez said. "I feel great after I do it."

Full disclosure: I've delivered groceries for the Food Bank since the start of the pandemic and am colleague of Gomez. Her assessment of the volunteer experience at the Food Bank is consistent with my own, and with other volunteers I've spoken with.

Gomez is among thousands of Americans who have embraced the spirit of helping others during amid this time of great need.

The demand for help putting food on the table has skyrocketed throughout the country since the inception of the pandemic. Food insecurity has grown exponentially as unemployment has spiked to its highest level since the Great Depression, The Associated Press reports.

The number of households in both counties who rely on the Food Bank for assistance has nearly doubled from 32,000 before the coronavirus crisis to 60,000.

Before the pandemic, the Food Bank delivered to 260 seniors weekly in both counties. That number has swelled to around 12,000 per week.

Volunteers such as Gomez have helped the Food Bank meet the increased demand. The Food Bank has nearly tripled its volunteer workforce from 1,200 before the pandemic to over 3,000.

"I think it's important for people to realize the need in the community was always there before the pandemic, but the pandemic really highlighted how many seniors we have who don't have access to food on a weekly basis," SFMFB Community Support Coordinator Cindy Lin said.

The Food Bank has met that demand by increasing its delivery service. Before the pandemic the Food Bank's Pop-Up Pantries and Pantry at Home were the primary source for serving households in need.

Lin said the SFMFB's greatest current need is for volunteer delivery drivers Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Those interested in volunteering can register at the SFMFB's website.

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Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.