Community Food Bank Serving Folsom, ElDorado Hills & Granite Bay

News

Community Service Day 2025

Filling Hearts & Shelves

FOLSOM COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY 2025 

This past weekend, we were reminded once again of the extraordinary heart of our Folsom community. On Community Service Day, hundreds of volunteers came together with one shared mission: to make sure our hungry neighbors know they are not forgotten. 

From the very beginning of the day, we could feel the energy and excitement. At a brand-new garden site donated by Oak Hills Church, we stood side by side with Garden Coordinator Michelle Kwek and a team of volunteers, breaking new ground and preparing soil for planting. It wasn’t just about turning over dirt—it was about planting hope, about making sure that fresh, healthy food will be available to nourish families in the months ahead. 

Meanwhile, across town, another group of volunteers sprang into action. Led by Mark Behouth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teams fanned out across Folsom to collect food donations. One by one, families left bags of groceries on their doorsteps, and one by one, those bags were picked up and delivered to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. There, volunteers led by Dr. Anthony Retodo of Kaiser Permanente and our very own Operations Manager, Elizabeth Martin, worked tirelessly to receive, sort, and prepare the donations for families who will need them. 

When we gathered at the warehouse later that day, our hearts swelled. What had been an empty space just days before was suddenly filled with row after row of canned goods, boxes, and nonperishables—all reminders of a community that cares deeply. As our Inventory Coordinator, Mark Hockaday, said, “It was an incredible sight to watch our empty warehouse fill back up. Every single item represented hope for a family in need.” 

In total, the food collected will provide the equivalent of 38,000 meals over the next five months. That number is more than just statistics to us—it’s children going to bed with full stomachs, parents finding relief in knowing they can put dinner on the table, and seniors no longer having to choose between paying bills and buying groceries. 

We are deeply grateful. Grateful for every volunteer who showed up, every donor who filled a bag of food, every leader who gave their time and energy, and every partner who helped make this day possible. Together, we are building a stronger, kinder community—one where no neighbor is left behind. 

But as we celebrate, we also know our work is not finished. The need in our community continues to grow, and hunger doesn’t end after one day of service. That’s why we’re still accepting food donations and inviting anyone who feels moved to help to join us. Whether it’s hosting a food drive through your school, business, or neighborhood, or simply dropping off a few extra groceries, every action makes a difference. 

This is our community. These are our neighbors. And together, with open hands and open hearts, we can make sure no table goes empty. 

If you’d like to be part of this ongoing effort, you can learn more at https://twinlakesfoodbank.org/donate-food/  or by emailing us at info@twinlakesfoodbank.org


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Capital Campaign Kickoff

A NIGHT OF HOPE

Twin Lakes Food Bank Launches Bold Vision for the Future

On Wednesday, July 16th , something big happened in Folsom. In a room filled with community leaders, dedicated volunteers, passionate staff, and faithful board members, Twin Lakes Food Bank officially kicked off its most ambitious project yet—a $3.1 million capital campaign that will pave the way for a brand-new facility and expanded services for our neighbors in need across Folsom, El Dorado Hills, and Granite Bay.

 This wasn’t just another evening gathering—it was a celebration of vision, unity, and purpose. Guests enjoyed delicious bites donated by beloved local restaurants like Riley’s on Sutter, Dos Coyotes, Sutter Street Taqueria, and Visconti’s Ristorante. But the real nourishment came from what was shared: stories of hope, community, and the bold steps Twin Lakes is taking to meet a rising need.

From Humble Roots to a Bold Future.

Since 1986, when a group of local church leaders founded the food bank, Twin Lakes has served as a lifeline to thousands. For the past 39 years, its home has been a renovated duplex on Montrose Drive. But as Folsom and surrounding areas have grown, so too has the need for support. In fact, the number of people served has nearly tripled—now reaching more than 34,000 annually. Folsom is growing 3x’s faster than the Sacramento metro area. With housing being built along the south of 50 and the multi-family units along East Bidwell St, that number is only expected to rise.

Why This Campaign Matters

“This campaign isn’t just about building a bigger space,” said Executive Director Lisa Tuter. “It’s about making sure that when someone in our community is hungry, we’re equipped to help—without ever having to turn them away.”
The vision? To raise $3.1 million to build a facility that doubles current square footage, increases storage capacity to over one million pounds, and extends distribution hours to better serve working families. The new space will allow Twin Lakes to serve up to 60,000 people annually—a number that reflects both the growing need and the food bank’s unwavering commitment to meet it.

A True Community Effort

It’s clear this vision isn’t just a dream—it’s already a shared mission. With support from 16 local churches, nearly 1,700 donors, over 150 businesses, and 12 nonprofit organizations, the foundation has already been laid. Now, with the public phase of the campaign officially launched, Twin Lakes is inviting the entire community to join in.
“We’re building more than a building,” Lisa added. “We’re building hope.”

Learn more or get involved by emailing  buildinghope@twinlakesfoodbank.org or clicking the button below. 

Let’s build hope—together.


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200 Students Need School Supplies

Back 2 School Extravaganza

Our annual backpack and school supply giveaway is coming up on Friday, August 1! At perhaps our favorite event of the year, hundreds of local under-resourced students receive food, family fun, and everything they need to start the school year with confidence.

Due to the generous donations of our church and community partners, we already have hundreds of backpacks for students to choose from, hygiene kits, back-to-school snack bags, professional haircuts, and more for our guests. We anticipate over 350 local students will register, and we cannot wait to love on them all.

This year, Chick-fil-A, Folsom Police, Folsom’s Hope, Ruby’s Bookstore, and Tricks Gymnastics are attending the event to help us make lasting memories by providing sandwiches, books, entertainment, ice cream, community connections, and more.

Sponsor a Student

While all of the backpacks, hygiene products, and entertainment is provided, we still need your help to purchase school supplies. Due to the generous donation of the campers at Lakeside’s Blitz Camp, we are close to halfway there, but 200 registered students still need a sponsor. A $25 donation will allow us to purchase grade-appropriate school supplies for one registered student. Click the button below to become a sponsor today!

Small Gifts, Lasting Impact: Big Day of Giving

Mark your calendars!

Sacramento’s Big Day of Giving is just around the corner—1 month away! From April 17 to May 1, our community of faithful volunteers, donors, board members, and community partners will come together to fight hunger in our community and raise $75,000 to continue our mission of providing the necessity of food with dignity.

Why not just donate now?

Big Day of Giving is one of our most important fundraisers of the year because the platform of the event allow small nonprofits like ours to receive additional grants, prizes, and matching funds. These funds can double and triple the impact of each donation.

In a season of financial uncertainty for both our vulnerable neighbors and the organizations that serve them, these events are key to our stability, longevity, and continued growth.

So mark your calendars, and prepare to make a difference in Folsom on May 1!

Angels on Wheels: Ministering to our Local Housebound

Angels on Wheels (AOW) volunteers Tricia and Alex spent their Wednesday morning checking grocery lists, loading their cars, and delivering nutritious food to three of our housebound guests facing food insecurity. In addition to essential groceries, they collected special treats for each guest: coffee for Susan, hot dogs for John, and a special cheesecake for Talia whose birthday was today. 

Each of our AOW guests experiences physical pain and conditions that limit or rob their mobility. But often more heartbreaking is the emotional toll that a loss of independence and increased isolation takes.  

When they reached Talia’s front door later that day, it opened before Tricia and Alex could knock: “My Angels!!!”

Talia greets them that same way each time they visit. One of over 20 AOW guests, she can hardly wait for her biweekly delivery of groceries tailored to her dietary restrictions. As they unloaded the groceries, they caught up on all the news—Talia updated Tricia on her grandchildren, and Alex asked about her recent crafting projects.

When she saw the cheesecake, Talia’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude: “Thank you for remembering me.”

Ministering through the delivery of nutritious food, thoughtful questions, long chats, hugs, and even cheesecake, Tricia, Alex, and others are truly Angels to our housebound guests.

160 Families Still Need Easter Hams

Holiday Hardships

Food insecurity affects hundreds of families in Folsom each month, adding anxiety and hunger to the already overwhelming burdens of financial vulnerability, health crises, and uncertain housing.

While holidays can be celebrations of family, togetherness, and joy, they are often one more thing that overwhelms. Whether they hold memories, expectations, or extra mouths to feed with children out of school, holidays are times when our guests need more love and support than ever.

Each of our holiday food events seeks to fulfill our mission of sharing God’s love to our vulnerable community by providing food and support with dignity.

Help Us Provide Holiday Hams

This month, for our Easter holiday, each household who visits between March 25 and April 17 will be offered a holiday note, gift card, and one fully-cooked and frozen ham to enjoy with their family during the holidays.

With over 350 families expected to attend, we still need 160 hams!

Consider sponsoring a family’s holiday by donating a fully-cooked and frozen ham (4-10 pounds) or donating $20 to purchase a holiday ham.

To commit to donating a ham, please contact lindsayolson@twinlakesfoodbank.org by Tuesday, March 18.

To make a monetary donation toward a ham, click this link.

Thank you for your generosity! We cannot fulfill our mission without your support.

Leatherby’s Fundraiser on March 3

Mark your calendars!

Monday, March 3

5 PM-11 PM

Leatherby’s Family Creamery, Folsom

You don’t want to miss this!

Load your car with every friend, family member, neighbor, and whoever else you can find, and visit Leatherby’s on Monday, March 3, to support Twin Lakes Food Bank!

When you mention Twin Lakes at the register (which comes naturally for all of you dedicated partners ;), 20% of all dine in sales and call-in takeout sales directly benefit your hungry neighbors.

We look forward to seeing you there as we fight hunger in Folsom together!

How Pantry Outreach Programs Reach Our Community

What are POPs?

Pantry Outreach Programs (POP) allow us to partner with local organizations to provide food to more of our vulnerable neighbors.

Our POPs work with Folsom’s Hope, Powerhouse Ministries, Falcon Cares at Folsom Lake College, and more to reach our community.

Each of our POP partners offer support and resources in a variety of areas–academic, socio-emotional development, employment, counseling, and more. By helping provide the basic need of nutritious food, we can help these organizations empower students, families, and our vulnerable neighbors through wrap-around care.

What is their influence?

Folsom’s Hope provides a meal for each child enrolled in the STARS after-school program. By partnering with them to provide lunch foods, we can help ensure that between school lunches and STARS, each of these students receives 3 meals a day.

One of the outreaches of Falcon Cares at Folsom Lake College is a weekly food pantry for students, faculty, and the FLC Community. By providing nonperishable items in smaller portions, we can help the Falcon Cares team reach each hungry student with nutritious food in amounts that they can store and prepare.

Folsom Lake College students share:

“This is super helpful for lunches and snacks.”

“This service greatly helped me during this semester due to being in disability and having zero income. Seeing everyone there once a week warmed my heart and really gave me something to look forward too, in addition to having food. Thank you!”

Thank you to each of our POP partners for the work you do and the services and resources you provide to our neighbors in need.

What a privilege to support these outreaches by providing food each week!

TLFB Gala Brings in $237,000

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 Gala!

Each donor, volunteer, sponsor, and participant in the live and online auctions helped us raise over $237,000 this year.

As we faced inflation, high food costs, and a growing number of guests, you stepped up and gave on average 13% more than you did last year—filling the gaps and ensuring that each of our hungry neighbors have access to the basic need of nutritious food.

Thank you for your support in helping us continue the daily distribution of food at the Twin Lakes Food Bank. We would not be successful without the generosity of our supporters.

From each of us on staff at the Twin Lakes Food Bank, thank you!

Wow! Folsom Sponsors 350 Under-resourced Students

The Need

Last week, we were preparing for the Back to School Extravaganza but still waiting on sponsorships for 280 students. We asked the community to consider sponsoring a student for $25.

As the week went on, we began to receive sponsorships, but we also continued to have children register to receive school supplies. Currently, 350 under-resourced students will attend the event on August 2 to enjoy time with their family, haircuts, chicken sandwiches, community resources, and more.

Your Response

In just one week, Folsom showed up for our students, and every single one has been sponsored by you all. Thank you!

These sponsorships provide students with grade-appropriate school supplies. Students will receive crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters, notebooks, pens, index cards, and more. Additionally, the community is providing professional haircuts and hygiene kits. Your generosity is giving under-resourced students in Folsom an extraordinary start to the school year!

If you are still considering giving, click the link below to help us continue to support Folsom’s youth throughout the school year.