Featured News, Siskiyou, South County

Siskiyou Food Assistance Provides Quality Food to Siskiyou County

Denise Hopkins long time volunteer

Siskiyou Food Assistance has been opening its weekly pantry since 2001. Would you like to help?

Plant a row of veggies in your garden this spring for our community in need.

Denise Hopkins has been volunteering since the program launched. “My cousin, our Pastor, Jerry Broomfield started it at the Wayside Church of God in Christ as a Food Bank in 1986. It grew so quickly we had to change locations.”

SFA’s headquarters is now in the old Weed Elementary School’s band, art and home ec room. With the school in need of the building, SFA is looking for a new location for the weekly program. Siskiyou Food Assistance operates on food donations from a variety of businesses and monetary donations from the public to get bags of fresh produce, sprouted grains and grass fed meats into the homes of residents in South County. Serving Gazelle, Big Springs and south to Castella.

Denise Spayd Executive Director

Denise Spayd started off as a volunteer, then board member and worked her way to Executive Director. “I was a registered nurse in Redding for thirteen years. After retiring I wanted to use my background to help my community. I decided that community nutrition was the answer.” “I am amazed at how many people don’t know about our program,” Spayd says. In addition to high quality food donations, SFA offers the community a 20-rack food dehydrator within its facility as well as promotes Siskiyou Community Resource Collaborative classes in canning produce and nutritional cooking.

“With monetary donations from our supporters we have the opportunity to purchase fresh produce from Siskiyou County’s local farms,” says Spayd. Last year SFA developed business relationships with local producers Marble Mountain Farm near Happy Camp, Heart Felt Farm in Fort Jones, Cornerstone Farm in Gazelle, Mountain View Organics in Grenada and Shasta Mountain Aquaponics in Mt. Shasta. If you are a local farm that is interested in partnering with SFA email [email protected]

When asked how can our community help Siskiyou Food Assistance, Spayd responded, “Plant a row of veggies for your community this year. Planting a row of vegetables that you plan to donate will help out a lot!” SFA offers a delivery option as well. To get involved in the program you will need to show identification and go through a phone or in-person interview.

If interested call 530-408-6115

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