Local Allstate Agency Owners Earn $3,000 Grant to Fight Hunger

SANTA ROSA, Calif. Oct. 2018 – Santa Rosa-area Allstate agency owner and licensed sales professionals recently joined Allstate volunteers across seven states to secure a $3,000 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grant to benefit 10 Feeding America member food banks, including the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Allstate volunteers collected monetary donations during an online virtual food drive in April to enable Feeding America food bank members to support local families in need. Every $1 donated during the online virtual food drive will help provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Replenishing local food banks also allows rapid response during a natural disaster, which can leave community members without shelter, power and access to safe food and water.

Allstate agency owners also volunteered by packing disaster relief boxes at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Their efforts will help provide supplies that can be distributed the moment a community faces disaster-related damage.

The online virtual food drive and hands-on volunteer activity were part of a multi-state Allstate Foundation volunteer effort benefitting Feeding America member food banks in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Texas. In all, $136,000 was donated through Allstate Foundation Helping Hands® grants.

"Following the devastating aftermath of hurricanes and wildfires at the end of last year, Feeding America’s disaster resources have been significantly depleted,” said Phil Telgenhoff, Allstate Field Senior Vice President. “Feeding America serves one in seven Americans and we are so proud of our local Allstate volunteers for stepping up to replenish food supplies, raise funds and strengthen Feeding America’s ability to deliver critical emergency relief to communities in need.”

Participating Santa Rosa-area Allstate agency owner and licensed sales professional volunteers include (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Eduardo Gomez, Santa Rosa
• Leydiana King, Santa Rosa
• Ben Lehr, Santa Rosa
• Steven Memmer, Sebastopol
• David Molina, Rancho Cordova

Since 2011, Allstate and The Allstate Foundation have contributed more than $2.5 million to Feeding America to support its disaster preparedness and relief programs.

The Redwood Empire Food Bank is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by Allstate agency owners and financial specialists for their volunteer efforts. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.