Bienvenidos Outreach Inc

HELPING THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY FAMILIES.

IN THE PAST YEAR BIENVENIDOS OUTREACH HAD A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BOXES GIVEN OUT IN OUR FOOD BOX PROGRAM (7,859 FOR FY 21-22 VS 9,832 FOR FY 20-21), AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF LUNCHES HANDED OUT IN OUR LUNCH BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS PROGRAM (11,110 IN FY 21-22 VS 10,021 IN FY 20-21). OF THESE CLIENTS, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 221 FAMILIES (714 PEOPLE) WHO APPLIED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH US FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FOOD BOX PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR WAS 897 FAMILIES (2,296 PEOPLE). THE DROP IN FOOD BOXES CAN STILL BE ATTRIBUTED TO SOME OF OUR ELDERLY CLIENTS STAYING HOME DUE TO ILLNESS OR LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE PANTRY. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, WE HAVE TEAMED UP WITH DOORDASH TO HELP DELIVER FOOD BOXES TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP.PRIVATE & RETAIL FOOD DONATIONS WERE DOWN AGAIN THIS YEAR. WITH THE HIGH COST OF FOOD, WE ARE SEEING LESS AVAILABLE DONATED FOOD FROM ALL OUR MAJOR SUPERMARKET DONORS AS IT APPEARS THEIR BUYERS ARE CUTTING BACK ON THEIR INVENTORIES. WE CONTINUE TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMERS THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR OUR SPECIAL FOOD BOXES THAT CONTAIN HEALTHY FOODS FOR MEDICALLY-CHALLENGED PEOPLE, CHILDREN AND SENIORS IN OUR CARE. MONETARY DONATIONS WERE STILL VERY GOOD BUT WE HAVE NOTICED THE SLOWING DOWN OF MONTHLY RECURRING DONATIONS THAT WE HAD DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. WE ANTICIPATE A MAJOR SLOW-DOWN IN DONATIONS IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.WE HAD A MAJOR INCREASE IN CLOTHING ROOM VISITS (3,087 IN FY 21-22 VS 812 VISITS IN FY 20-21) AS WE OPENED THE CLOTHIRN ROOM 3 TIMES A WEEK AND EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS. WE RECEIVED MORE DONATIONS THIS YEAR, TOO, AS PEOPLE SEEMED TO BE CLEARING OUT THEIR CLOSETS WHILD BEING STUCK AT HOME DUE TO COVID AND EXTRA DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED TO HELP OUT THE WILDFIRE VICITIMS WHO SOUGHT AID FROM US.OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN PROVIDED 350 CHILDREN WITH 700 GIFTS (2 GIFTS EACH).WE ADDED AN NEW PROGRAM TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR CALLED THE PET PANTRY FOOD PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FOOD AND PET SUPPLIES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE CATS AND DOGS. IT HAS BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL AND PLANS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OTHER HOUSE PETS (FISH, TURTLES, REPTILES, ETC.) ARE BEING DISCUSSED FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.VOLUNTEER STAFFING IS CONTINUING TO GO UP AND WE ARE DELIGHTED IN THE AMOUNT OF NEW VOLUNTEERS WE ARE SEEING AT THE PANTRY EACH MONTH. FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR'S LOW OF 25 VOLUNTEERS, WE NOW HAVE AS OF THE LAST QUARTER OF FY 21-22, 54 VOLUNTEERS AT OUR FOOD PANTRY.