Donor News

"Grant J. Hunt Company, Distributors of Fresh Fruit and Produce", has joined Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa as its newest "food partner".  The company donated 21 cases of apples this November which were immediately used in our daily fruit salad, as well as being distributed directly to our clients on the "free tables" at each location.  Maurice Protzen, a company partner and Lafayette resident, has become a member of the Lafayette 100 and is arranging for regular donations of fruits and vegetables to Loaves and Fishes.  We are expecting a shipment of potatoes in December.  GJ Hunt has been a distributor of high quality produce in the Bay Area for over 75 years and has offices in California, Oregon and Washington.  Thank you GJ Hunt and Maurice Protzen for helping those who are struggling with hunger.

2011 marked AAA’s 15th Consecutive year of donating fresh turkeys to many non-profits located in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.  This year they donated close to 10 tons of turkeys to 26 non-profits. This is impressive and very much appreciated by Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa. The Turkeys were delivered to Loaves & Fishes on November 10. Chef James Porter, Development Director Joleen Lafayette and driver Tim Mays were all there to greet AAA when they arrived with the truck load of turkeys. Two AAA Agents Kristy Kropa and Kathleen Ellis also joined in to help from the AAA Antioch Office. When the turkeys arrived they were put into the refrigerator and are now waiting to be prepared for our upcoming holiday meals.

Our new Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa Executive Director, David Gerson, is a long time Lafayette resident, community volunteer and member of the Lafayette School District Governing Board.  After joining us as Executive Director he realized that his own community was under represented on the agency’s donor list.  At the same time David joined our staff, Jay Lifson joined the Board.  Jay is also active in Lafayette and is currently the executive director of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.  Together they decide to boldly approach their community and seek new donors.  Jay and David drafted an article highlighting LFCC mission, the increasing need for its services, their personal commitment to each donate a $1,000 to LFCC and seeking 98 more families to join them in funding LFCC’s mission of feeding the hungry in Contra County. The article was published on the front page of the September issue of “Lafayette Today”.

EMC Corporation, a leading technology company, lent is support to Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (LFCC) mission on October 4th by hosting a poker tournament at its Pleasanton campus. The event was a first for both EMC and LFCC, and was the brainchild of Jay Snyder, an EMC Vice President, who was hosting a multi-day sales training seminar and wanted to not only provide an evening of fun for his guests but also support a local non-profit.  Jay brought the poker tournament concept to David Gerson, a friend and our Executive Director, and the rest is history.  EMC provided a pre-tournament dinner for all 77 players and covered the cost of the Blue Dog Events, a local Walnut Creek company that specializes in running poker tournaments to benefit non-profit.  Several other companies, who sent their personnel for training, also supported the event by making direct contributions to LFCC.  The event raised over $8,500 and provided a fun evening for all those attending.  The top 9 finishers each won cash prizes as well as other donated items such as sporting event tickets and an IPad2.   The event was a lot of fun and a great fundraiser for LFCC.  Our thanks go out to Jay, EMC, the sponsors and all the players who made the night a success!!