Having adequate healthy food is critical for students to succeed in school. The Berkeley Food Network/BUSD grocery program is making a difference in food security in our community, and Berkeley Schools Volunteers are a key part of the program’s success.
This program is a partnership between the Schools Fund’s Berkeley School Support Volunteers, BUSD’s Office of Family Engagement & Equity, the Berkeley Food Network. Berkeley Food Network supplies fresh produce and healthy shelf stable foods and our volunteers staff monthly school-site food pantries and deliver groceries week in and week out to families’ homes. Our current Food Security Team includes nearly 100 dedicated volunteers.
The Home Grocery Delivery Volunteers deliver fresh groceries each week to families who have limited access to fresh food. Two volunteers who joined the team last year are Spike Alper and Natalie Malam. They described their experience to be very rewarding.
“It’s such a basic thing to bring nutritious food to people with limited resources,” says Spike. “It makes me feel good and I know it’s appreciated.”
For Natalie, the work connects her to the com
munity. “I want to live in a caring and supportive community, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to volunteer in this way. Some families are settling here from other countries. I’ve been there before, and it can be difficult. This is a way to add a positive and welcoming act into their week.”
Monthly school site food pantries began in December 2023, bringing free produce and grocery items to families at schools across the district. Our volunteers make this program possible — they unpack boxes, set up food tables, and greet families and assist in their selections. Volunteer Natalie Campbell began volunteering at food pantries last summer, and enjoyed her experience “from start to finis
h. The people from Berkeley Schools Volunteers and Berkeley Food Network were extremely organized, and helped all of the volunteers get familiar with the situation, and told us exactly what to do. The food that was being handed out was all so healthy and looked delicious. But the best part of the day was getting to meet the families. It was such a joy to see how excited some of the kids were to help their parents select the fresh fruits and vegetables. The families were all very friendly, and it felt great to be able to help out, even in that small way.”
Lydia Gebrehiwot and her team in the the Office of Family Engagement & Equity are grateful to have these programs to support the families they serve. OFEE team member Carol Perez shares the impact of the program:
“Some of the families at our schools lack sufficient access to food. Obstacles include inability to afford the high cost of food, lack of access to transportation and/or inability to leave their home to shop. The food seccurity programs provide an opportunity to lessen these challenges and build relationships with the school and broader community.” Carol is shown in the photo above (on right), with volunteer Kitty Keenan.
Berkeley Schools Volunteers is proud to be part of this important partnership, and we appreciate the dedication of our Food Security Volunteer Team!