Complete the FRC Food Bank Warehouse

Expanding Food Access in Del Norte County: Complete the Family Resource Center Food Bank Warehouse

The Family Resource Center of the Redwoods is dedicated to creating a welcoming, safe, and nurturing environment that strengthens and supports healthy relationships for children and families throughout Del Norte County. We support families at every stage by providing early childhood programming, parenting education, community engagement opportunities, postpartum support, and access to nutritious food.

A piece of our work is our food bank program—an essential lifeline for thousands of families. What began as a small pantry, Pacific Pantry, has grown into a full-scale food bank serving more than 7,000 individuals annually—nearly 26% of our county’s population.

But the need continues to grow.

Del Norte County has the third-highest food insecurity rate in California, with rural and Tribal communities disproportionately impacted by food deserts, geographic isolation, and limited transportation. Many families simply cannot access fresh, healthy food.

To meet this need, we launched our Mobile Market in 2021, bringing nutritious, culturally relevant food directly to underserved communities like Smith River, Gasquet, and Klamath. Still, demand is rising faster than our capacity.

The Challenge

Despite significant growth, our biggest barrier is limited storage space.

• We are unable to accept large food donations

• We miss opportunities for bulk purchasing

• Program spaces are being repurposed for storage, disrupting family services

• During emergencies, we struggle to respond quickly and efficiently

Simply put: we don’t have the infrastructure to keep up with the need.

Program space used for a food delivery drop.

Holiday Bag packing in the community room of the Family Resource Center.

Emergency Food Boxes staged for delivery during the Smith River Complex Fire. 

The Solution: A Food Bank Warehouse

In 2024, we took a major step forward by purchasing a 5000 sq ft warehouse in Crescent City. Now, we need your help to complete the transformation.

This warehouse will allow us to:

• Store significantly more food safely and efficiently

• Expand distribution across the county

• Reduce wait times for families in need

• Strengthen emergency preparedness for fires, floods, and disasters

• Increase volunteer engagement and community involvement

• Build a stronger, more resilient local food system

This is more than a building—it’s a long-term investment in food security and community resilience.

Our Impact

• Serving 7,000+ individuals annually throughout the county

• 96% of families served are below the poverty line

• Supporting communities with limited or no access to grocery stores

• Assisting seniors, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness

• Nearly tripling the number of people served since 2021

• $270,328 back into the local economy by purchasing locally produced foods 

Every dollar invested helps ensure families have consistent access to nutritious food.

How You Can Help

Your support will directly fund the infrastructure needed to expand our food bank operations and meet the growing demand for food assistance.

With your help, we can:

• Accept and store more food

• Reach more families in remote areas

• Respond faster during emergencies

• Ensure no family goes hungry

Join us in building a stronger, hunger-free Del Norte County.

Your donation today will help us expand food access, strengthen our community, and ensure every family has the nourishment they need to thrive.

Thank you for helping us feed our community.