Food Bank Exterior Artist's Rendering

Food Bank Expansion
Dignity Health Connected Living has a $1.8 million expansion in the works 

The Dignity Health Connected Living Food Bank has outgrown its current space as the demand for food continues to grow. To meet this growing need, the Food Bank Expansion is in the works. This expansion will cost a total of $1.8 million and will increase capacity while keeping all Food Bank operations in-house. While a State grant will cover $1.3 million of the project, we still need to raise an additional $500,000 to fully complete the project.

Dignity Health Connected Living is expanding its Food Bank facility by 4,000 square feet, including a walk-up counter and space for an in-house walk-in freezer.  As Shasta County’s designated Food Bank, we serve 4,000-5,000 people monthly and distribute over 4 million pounds of food annually. In collaboration with 13 non-profit agencies, we provide food to low-income families, seniors, and those with emergency food needs.  

With twenty percent of the population of Shasta County facing food insecurity, this expansion is needed now more than ever. Construction will begin soon, and your help is essential in seeing this project to completion. Can you help us store more food?  

We know that alleviating hunger can strengthen the community as a whole. If anyone can do it, this community can!  Make a gift today by calling Mercy Foundation North at (530) 247-3424 or visiting www.supportmercynorth.org/ways-to-give.

William and kids in car

William, a father

William is a single dad who is raising and homeschooling his two children while going through cancer treatment and kidney care. Because he is unable to work, he depends on the Food Bank's many distributions to get his family through the week. Without the Food Bank, he would not be able to feed his children.  

“We are so grateful for all that these folks do. We would not be able to survive without the Food Bank. We come here every week, and everyone is so helpful. It is a life-saving system.”

He asked that his story be shared to spread the word on how valuable the Food Bank is to him, his family, and our community.

Vietnam Vet in wheelchair

Gary, a veteran

Gary from Shasta County is a veteran who has been using Dignity Health Connected Living for years. He is on a fixed income, and without the Food Bank, he would not be able to get the nutritious foods he needs.  

He drives to the distribution center early so he can chat with other clients in line. They have built their own little community and become friends with others in need of the camaraderie. He values all that the Food Bank does for his friends and him each week. 

Joe Ayer holding food in a food bank

Joe, a director

And our own Executive Director of Connected Living, Joe Ayer, knows firsthand how valuable the Food Bank is.

Joe's mother was a single mom, raising three boys in the Sacramento Area. Living on assistance from the State and child support, she was still unable to make ends meet. Joe recalls often standing in the line at the Sacramento Food Bank, waiting for their weekly bag of groceries. He fondly remembers dry cereal being a special treat for him and his brothers (powdered milk being the least favorite).

Joe is living proof that as people are assisted with the basic necessity of food, they can take that help and turn it into a positive.