Community Food Bank Serving Folsom, ElDorado Hills & Granite Bay
Community Food Bank Serving Folsom, ElDorado Hills & Granite Bay
Twin Lakes Food Bank is growing — and growth demands evolution. As we prepare to open our new, larger facility, we are building the team and structure necessary to match the scale of what’s coming. That means new positions, expanded roles, and people who bring the skills and energy our next chapter requires. Change of this magnitude isn’t always comfortable, but it is intentional. Every shift in our organization right now is in service of one goal: reaching more families, more efficiently, with more impact than ever before. This isn’t change for its own sake. It’s change because our community deserves better.
Once built, our new food bank will make possible what isn’t today. The 10,000 square foot, two-building campus will be able to serve double the number of people and store twice the number of pounds of food. Last week, we completed the first step in this process with our partner from Home Aid of Sacramento by submitting a design and entitlement application with the City of Folsom. We project that a building permit will be issued by the end of 2026.
Author of Atomic Habits, James Clear wrote, “You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.” When we move into our new building, we will need to bring new and daring mindsets and skillsets to build the systems that this larger, higher capacity facility will provide. Waiting until we move into the new building to engage in this work would be “too late”.
Over the next year and a half, I will be leading the staff and board in conversations around what will get us to the next level of performance. As Brene Brown says in Strong Ground, we will be “making the invisible visible, naming what no one has named and saying the unsaid stuff.” This work is necessary, exciting and will take more of my time and energy, as will running staff point during the construction process.
In order to honor this new and additional work and keep the administrative wheels turning at the food bank, the board and I agreed to add the position of Assistant Director who will partner with me on some duties that, up until now, only the ED has had authority. We are delighted that Lindsay Olson accepted this position; she brings past leadership experience, has the respect of this community, commitment to the mission and compassion for our guests. She will continue her role in guest engagement while expanding her responsibilities to share some administrative, fundraising and public outreach activities with me.
One change that is already in motion to better meet the demands at the food bank is the expansion of our organic garden with a new plot of land to farm, gifted by Oak Hills Church, next to their community garden. Whereas our current organic garden yields approximately 6000-8000 pounds of produce every year, this new garden will be able to triple the harvest. Garden Coordinator Michelle Kwek has been leading this expansion well, and we anticipate our first harvest this winter. She is working hard to set up the next garden coordinator for success. Yes, it is bittersweet to announce that Michelle will be leaving her role in the garden at the end of 2026 to pursue a new family business, so we will be hiring a new garden coordinator to manage two gardens. If you or someone you know is skilled in gardening and interested in serving our hungry neighbors, you can download the job description HERE.
The new campus, the expanded team, the doubled garden harvest are all built on the foundation of your generosity and trust. When you give to Twin Lakes Food Bank, you are investing in the infrastructure, the people, and the systems that will allow us to feed twice as many families tomorrow. Many of you showed up when we were small, and your continued support is what made growth possible. As we step into this next chapter with new staff, new space, and a bold vision — we invite you to stay close. Follow our progress and celebrate the milestones with us. This is your food bank. And it is becoming something extraordinary.
Kindly,
Lisa Tuter
How one stop for gas became a reminder of the growing financial pressure families are carrying — and the compassion helping our community through it.
A new partnership brings a growing network of volunteer bakers together to provide fresh, nutrient-dense bread and protein bars, strengthening community connection and ensuring guests have access to nutritious food.
For the past 10 years, Krissy has faithfully served Twin Lakes Food Bank in countless ways, proving that simple acts of kindness and genuine relationships can transform lives—one neighbor at a time.
Paul Nathan Phillips is the Principal Attorney at Phillips Elder Law, a trusts and estates, probate, senior rights and litigation practice. Paul has successfully assisted victims of elder financial abuse and physical neglect, both inside and outside of court.
With nearly four decades admitted to the California Bar and qualified before state and federal courts, Paul has practiced as an associate and partner at several Los Angeles and Sacramento law firms. Paul served as General Legal Counsel for International Business Systems, an IBM-owned company with its US Office located in Folsom, where he managed the legal team and oversaw national compliance, contracts, and human resources around the country.
Paul earned two bachelor’s degrees from UCLA in 1981, in Political Science and Psychology. In 1987 he received his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He is a member recipient of the Saint Thomas More Honor award.
Paul has volunteered as an attorney and advisor for nonprofits serving low-income workers, the homeless, tenants rights, and elder adults. Paul has led senior outreach and healthy aging efforts through several local churches. A NASM-certified senior fitness trainer, Paul continues to lead free senior fitness classes. He shares and seeks to inspire others with his optimism and sense of humor, and deep love of hiking, paddling, camping, open-water swimming and all things nature.
An avid reader and gardener, Paul is the proud father of two accomplished daughters, and four personality overflowing grandchildren.
(in observance of Independence Day)
(Twin Lakes Food Bank Event)
