Food donations overflow at Sacramento pantries, gift shop

As the government shutdown continues, Sacramento residents are stepping up to support their neighbors by donating food to local pantries, ensuring that those affected by furloughs and reduced federal food assistance have access to essential supplies.Shelves are being filled with donations, ranging from a couple of cans to carloads of food, as community members work to address the needs of their neighbors. “Put together meals in a bag that you can go donate that are all shelf stable,” said Brooklyn Klepel. Kai Sequeira filled up the Flint Way neighborhood mini pantry. “We knew people could use it. So we try to come back every week and fill it up,” he said. Oak Park’s Strapping Gift Shop has created a giving corner, of sorts. It looks like a mini grocery store offering pet food, toiletries, diapers, non perishables and even refrigerated necessities such as meat, eggs, and milk. “It’s been the most heartwarming and heartbreaking thing that we’ve ever done as a business, for sure,” said owner Susan Stewart. The shop distributes 100 dozen eggs and 100 gallons of milk daily. Stewart expressed her initial concern about food going out of date. “They don’t stay in the case long enough to even worry about that,” she noted.Stewart is worried about her neighbors going hungry due to the halt in Cal Fresh and SNAP benefits. “I’ve had folks come in and come to me the to the counter and just say, ‘Hey, listen, I’m kind of embarrassed, but I need food,'” Stewart said. “And it’s a humbling, humbling experience for all of us.”Brooklyn Klepel also adds heartfelt, handwritten notes to her meal donations. “There’s a lot of people that are having a lot of, really hard times and they’re my community, and I need to be there for them,” she said tearfully.The Strapping Gift Store plans to keep the pantry open as long as necessary, with donations quickly being distributed to those in need. The store remains open every day, demonstrating that even during tough times, compassion doesn’t shut down.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

As the government shutdown continues, Sacramento residents are stepping up to support their neighbors by donating food to local pantries, ensuring that those affected by furloughs and reduced federal food assistance have access to essential supplies.

Shelves are being filled with donations, ranging from a couple of cans to carloads of food, as community members work to address the needs of their neighbors.

“Put together meals in a bag that you can go donate that are all shelf stable,” said Brooklyn Klepel.

Kai Sequeira filled up the Flint Way neighborhood mini pantry.

“We knew people could use it. So we try to come back every week and fill it up,” he said.

Oak Park’s Strapping Gift Shop has created a giving corner, of sorts. It looks like a mini grocery store offering pet food, toiletries, diapers, non perishables and even refrigerated necessities such as meat, eggs, and milk.

“It’s been the most heartwarming and heartbreaking thing that we’ve ever done as a business, for sure,” said owner Susan Stewart.

The shop distributes 100 dozen eggs and 100 gallons of milk daily. Stewart expressed her initial concern about food going out of date.

“They don’t stay in the case long enough to even worry about that,” she noted.

Stewart is worried about her neighbors going hungry due to the halt in Cal Fresh and SNAP benefits.

“I’ve had folks come in and come to me the to the counter and just say, ‘Hey, listen, I’m kind of embarrassed, but I need food,'” Stewart said. “And it’s a humbling, humbling experience for all of us.”

Brooklyn Klepel also adds heartfelt, handwritten notes to her meal donations.

“There’s a lot of people that are having a lot of, really hard times and they’re my community, and I need to be there for them,” she said tearfully.

The Strapping Gift Store plans to keep the pantry open as long as necessary, with donations quickly being distributed to those in need. The store remains open every day, demonstrating that even during tough times, compassion doesn’t shut down.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel