Local organizations pack, distribute holiday food boxes

Carlos Torres, a volunteer with PG&E, helps load boxes of food onto a truck at Mission Solano in Fairfield, Monday morning. A number of volunteers helped box food in preperation for a Thanksgiving food giveaway on Tuesday at the shelter. (Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — It was an example of “many hands make light work” Monday as about 50 volunteers assembled and packed boxes for Mission Solano’s annual Thanksgiving food distribution.

The same held true at the Salvation Army offices on Missouri Street, as volunteers checked in food box recipients, then loaded the boxes in cars.

At Mission Solano, cardboard boxes were assembled in the kitchen at the Community Outreach Center on Travis Boulevard. The boxes were then placed in the chapel area where volunteers, with box in hand, walked through an assembly line to get everything from canned vegetables to potatoes.

When the box was filled, it was handed to volunteers, who passed it out the chapel door to even more volunteers, who loaded the boxes into a waiting truck.

That’s where Anthony Vogliano, a Rodriguez High School freshman, found himself stationed. He was one of 15 volunteers there working on a leadership project for 4-H.

“They’re not that heavy, but they add up,” he said of handling the boxes.

The boxes will be distributed Tuesday.

Donna Quintero, Mission Solano’s community relations manager, oversaw the effort. The need was about the same as last year, she said. About 400 families signed up to get a box. Any leftover food items would be used to make another box, whose contents should feed a family of four, Quintero said.

Tom Abinante, a supervisor with Pacific Gas & Electric Co., was one of about 10 volunteers from the power company. It’s all about giving back to the community, he said.

“We know people are having tough times,” the Roseville resident said. “We give back any way we can.”

Some of the PG&E volunteers had traveled from Yuba City, Redding, Chico and San Francisco.

Jaylynn Quintero, 12, was there to help out. Her mother is Donna Quintero.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” said the Willis Jepson Middle School student as she put four sticks of butter in each box.

“It’s cold,” said her friend Maya Miller, 9, who was also handling the butter. It was the first year the girl from Vacaville Christian Schools has helped.

Cub Scout Troops 191 and 332 gave their time as part of a service project, said leader Marly Pedersen. The Scouts were already familiar with Mission Solano’s work, having helped out at a Halloween party. At Christmas, members of the troops will sort through gifts for Mission Solano.

“This was an easy job for the young kids to do,” said troop leader Anna Bagwell. Bagwell had her four children – Caleb, 9, twins Amanda and Jack, 6, and Cody, 4, with her.

Mission Solano welcomes donations of turkeys up to Thanksgiving Day. Donations can be dropped off at 740 Travis Blvd.

The Salvation Army gave out more than 600 boxes Monday in Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo.

“Through the tough times, we are responsive,” said Capt. Jonathan Harvey of the Salvation Army.

Veronica Bartlett was one of those having a tough time. She shared that her husband lost his job after 21 years. Then they lost their house. That was followed by both family autos having major problems.

She has a family of five to feed on Thanksgiving Day. If it had not been for the Salvation Army food, Bartlett said she would have been at a loss for what to do for the holiday.

“I probably would have cried,” she said.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amaginnisdr.

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Amy Maginnis-Honey joined the staff of the Daily Republic in 1980. She’ll tell you she was only 3 at the time. Over the past three decades she’s done a variety of jobs in the newsroom. Today, she covers arts and entertainment and writes for the Living and news pages.

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