Ed Kelly

My name is Ed Kelly, and I’m at the food bank fairly often. I’m running the Saturday food bank program and I utilize the services here for our other organization which is Elk Grove PATH, People Assisting the Homeless.

 

The food bank, it’s an essential part of the community. It’s the way that people who do not have enough to get by have the ability to at least eat and have healthy meals to get their families fed and to get through what problems they’re having.

 

We’ve seen the economy have quite a struggle lately, and a lot of people have lost their jobs. And even though some of them have become reemployed, they’re not working at the level they used to work at. So, we’re seeing a lot more working poor coming to the food bank, people that are trying to get on their feet but just because of the way the economy has changed and jobs aren’t as prevalent and beneficial as they used to be.

 

I think most people don’t understand that the people that use the food banks are the people that you see every day. They’re your neighbors. They may not appear that they are in need, but they do desperately need the little bit of help that we can give through the Elk Grove Food Bank.

 

I think the most rewarding experience is seeing somebody that has been coming here to the Elk Grove Food Bank, and they’ve finally got their feet on the ground and they’re able to move forward and they’re so grateful and thankful. Some of them have even come back and volunteered their own time to give back, and I think that’s very, very good and makes me feel warm inside.