Neighbors Organized Against Hunger (NOAH) Attracts New Faces, and the Regulars This Holiday Season

More and more people in need of food this holiday season are finding their way to the new location of local food pantry Neighbors Organized Against Hunger (NOAH), said Pastor Gail Cafferata, who runs the nonprofit out of her church, Holy Family Episcopal in Rohnert Park.

"It's growing and growing as the word gets out," Cafferata said with smile that stretched as wide as her face on a recent Wednesday.

Cafferata shuffled inside an old science lab at Mountain Shadows Middle School. But now, instead of beakers and Bunsen burners, Cafferata is helping organize the various bags of produce and boxes of sustenance to pass out to those in need.

Inside the room, lit like a hospital, the cabinets and tables were lined with all the holiday trimmings: stuffing, cranberries, canned green beans and carrots, loaves of bread, sacks of potatoes, gourds, apples and onions, bunches of celery.

"It looks like an old chemistry lab or biology lab, but we're getting good use out of it," Cafferata said.

Before a rat infestation rendered the old Fire Station facility on Southwest Boulevard uninhabitable, NOAH was providing food for an average of 2,500 people a month. And last July — the last month in operation right before it was shut down — NOAH helped a staggering 3,481 people put food on their dinner tables.

But that number took a nosedive four months later when the new operation opened up at Mountain Shadows, the middle school that's now closed due to severe citywide budget cuts.

To get the word out, NOAH is doing simple things like stuffing kids' backpacks with informational flyers at schools. And it's working: more and more families are finding out, volunteers say. During the first week back, NOAH served 88 people, and that numbers is still growing. Just two weeks later, on Thanksgiving week, 458 people got food that needed it.

"We've seen regulars coming back," said Olga Senyk, who has been volunteering for NOAH since it began five years ago. "But we're even some new faces; students, working professionals, people who have never had to come here before."

"A lot of them are apologetic, but they're all so thankful," Senyk said.

"I just drove by and saw the food pantry sign," said Amber Henry, who has lived in Rohnert Park for 30 years.

"I work at a bank, but I'm also a single mom. The money just doesn't go as far with the economy being so bad," Henry said.

NOAH volunteers passed Henry first a can of cranberries, then a box of stuffing.

"Ooh, yes I'll have some sweet potatoes," she said. "Having this resource in the community is great, especially around the holidays. Every little bit helps."

Roger Dillaman, 56, passed through the gates at Mountain Shadows with a full backpack of produce, and enough to put food on his table for Thanksgiving.

"I'm very low-income," he said. "I was eating a lot less when it closed down."

"Now I'll be able to eat," Dillaman said.

As Dillaman left for home, Theresa Eaton, who has been volunteering for NOAH for two years, wished him a happy Thanksgiving. "It really gives me the satisfaction of giving back to my community," she said.

ABOUT NOAH:

Neighbors Organized Against Hunger is a nonprofit whose current leadership board is comprised of volunteers from the wider community and community organizations including Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, Holy Family Episcopal Church, St. John's United Methodist Church, Rohnert Park Bible Church, Rancho Cotati Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Rohert Park-Cotati.

To make a donation, visit any of these locations, or call 707-795-7853.

*NOAH serves the cities of Rohnert Park, Cotati and Penngrove. Remember to bring your own bags or boxes to carry 20-25 pounds of food home with you.