FOOD PANTRY OUTREACH

Food Pantry Distribution @ 9:30 A.M.

Our food distributions are held on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated! We begin the Tuesday before the next distribution at 9:00 a.m. to sort and pack the boxes; then on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to prepare for the food distribution which starts about 9:30 a.m.

FOOD PANTRY AT LEMON COVE CHURCH - 2026

The food outreach program has been in operation at Lemon Cove Community Church for over 20 years. We have grown tremendously since we first began; from approximately 20 families to the current number of 100 families. Our food pantry is held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. In December we might distribute food on the third Wednesday, so that families have a holiday meal for Christmas Day.

Our church congregation gives time and money that supports the food ministry throughout the year. We are especially grateful for donations which allow us to buy turkeys/hams for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Donations of shelving, occasional protein items, besides the bread and boxes every month are donated by church members.

We usually have about 20 volunteers each month, 8-12 of those who don’t attend our church, but that can be counted on without fail. We have people coming on Tuesday to help unload pallets and fill boxes, and Wednesday to help the distribution.

Any product left over, that we cannot store (produce as an example) is donated to the Visalia Rescue Mission. However, since FoodBank and the Red Cross have both donated cold storage appliances, and an anonymous donor provided a seatrain container, we can now store items which was previously not an option. God is great.

The American Red Cross has been very generous in 2025 and 2026. Besides the convertible freezer/refrigerators, we have received pop-up shade covers, chairs, a huge event tent, an AED unit, first-aid kits and a first-aid course. We will also be receiving administrative equipment to better manage our food distribution. All these resources were provided by a privately funded grant, through the Red Cross, to help disadvantaged communities. Only a handful of communities in the entire United States received this grant.

FoodBank has also donated tables, pop-ups, pallet jacks, an industrial cooling fan and a three-door refrigerator. We have an extremely dedicated representative at FoodBank, Fulisha Oscar, who cannot be praised enough for her diligence in smooth-lining our food distribution.

We are truly blessed with a cadre of caring individuals. Since Diane Mehrten’s passing, Bruce Greer has assumed leadership, with Rene Esquivel and Dee Root as cohorts. Diane is greatly missed as she carried the reins for many years after George Barnes’ retirement; who is also greatly missed.

Our Food Pantry supporters include:

FoodLink of Tulare County

Central California FoodBank

Visalia Walmart Neighborhood Market

Flowers Bakery

Bimbo Bakery

American Red Cross

Saputo