RED BLUFF – A day after the heavens opened and gave the dry land below much-needed moisture, a semi-truck pulled into the PATH Navigation Center in Red Bluff with over 25,000 pounds of food to distribute to North Valley food shelters that prepare meals for people in need.
“The unique thing about this shipment is that it is meant for groups that provide meals,” said Wendy Phillips of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints JustServe Program, which, along with local leaders, coordinated this donation. “This is a donation for a food bank to give away; this is for shelters to make meals that are served.”
The shipment included staples such as black beans, sugar, rice, milk, potato flakes, carrots, strawberry slices, oats, macaroni, apple slices, onions, and flour, all dried and packed in #10 cans.
The food arrived early in the morning, was unloaded in groups, and volunteers divided the cases into 14 piles for organizations to pick up. Church members, volunteers, and a work group from the Tehama County Probation Department quickly and efficiently distributed the donations.
Before the distribution, President Timothy Beeman of the Anderson CA Stake, which includes Red Bluff, welcomed the volunteers and organizations and thanked them for being part of the project.
“You are the boots on the ground,” said Beeman. “Without your efforts, this food would remain in cans instead of making it to the mouths of the hungry.”
He shared Christ’s commandment to feed and care for the poor found in Matthew 25:35-36, 40.
“This is awesome,” said Patrick Hurton, Red Bluff City Councilman, who attended the food drop-off. “It’s amazing to see people come together to help those in need.”
Paula Anderson of Red Bluff, who organized the church donation, said it meant a lot to her that PATH and Red Bluff were among the area organizations that benefited from the food.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to help be a part of helping feed families in Tehama County,” said Anderson.
Local food programs that benefited from this donation were: PATH Navigation Center, Pathways to Housing, The Good News Rescue Mission, Lighthouse Ministries, Dignity Health, El Shaddai Church, The Salvation Army, Mountain Chapel Community Outreach, Douglas City Community Outreach, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Rodrick Senior Meals, True North, Senior Life Center, and Cristo Emmanuel Church.
