CONCORDWhite Pony Express seeks to reduce East Bay food insecurity by figuring out how to get excess, high-quality food into the hands of people in need of wholesome nourishment.
It has been trying to get extra food from businesses like supermarkets, eateries, farmer’s markets, and wholesalers since 2013. The nonprofit from East Bay is certain that it can gradually establish itself as one of the groups that can contribute to the fight against hunger.
We work to link Contra Costa County’s abundant food supply with those who are most in need of wholesome food, said Eve Birge, CEO of White Pony Express.
One important method to combat hunger, according to some economists, is to figure out how to get the things that are accessible to the people who need them the most.
The NGO claims that by rescuing and delivering excess fresh food, the White Pony Express Food Rescue Program addresses the logistical problem that food markets face.
To make these connections more effective, the nonprofit organization with its headquarters in Concord has established a network.
According to the nonprofit’s website, its Food Rescue Program recovers 12,000 pounds of high-quality food on average every day from wholesalers, restaurants, farmers markets, and retailers.
White Pony Express claims that all gifts of fresh food are given away without charge. The NGO is open every day of the week.
Every distribution is tailored to the 98 nonprofit beneficiaries’ preferences, according to the nonprofit states.
White Pony Express was established in 2013 by Dr. Carol Weyland Conner, a psychologist, educator, and spiritual leader of the American spiritual school Sufism Reoriented.
Conner, who died in 2023, founded the nonprofit organization because he was worried that thousands of people go hungry and that countless more have to deal with poor or unhealthy diets in spite of the country’s bountiful crops of plenty.
According to Birge, the goal is to give food to people who lack the means. We make an effort to salvage food of all kinds, things that are nearing their expiration dates, and anything else that could otherwise end up in a dumpster.
Additionally, White Pony Express looks for food from odd places like culinary schools.
Birge stated, “We want anyone who has extra food to be aware of us and our pick-up services.” In this manner, less food is wasted away and ends up rotting in landfills.
To locate other food sources, the group also goes to the farmer’s markets in Brentwood, Walnut Creek, Moraga, and Concord.
According to Birge, farmers travel from all over, including the Central Valley, to these markets. There are often ten to twelve produce merchants that provide us with meals each time we visit a farmer’s market.
The extra food is collected by the nonprofit’s employees and volunteers, who then transport it to its distribution locations.
According to Birge, the volunteers sort the food to ensure that it is of the best quality. We arrange it according to the tastes of the individuals who will be eating that day.
One of the beneficiaries of the nonprofit’s efforts to provide meals to those in need is the Antioch Unified School District. The district’s secondary education director, Lindsay Lopez-Wisely, thinks White Pony Express is having a big impact.
Families are having more difficulties these days due to inflation and rising food costs, Lopez-Wisely stated. We are extremely appreciative of our collaboration with White Pony Express.
Recipients like Antioch schools also commend the nonprofit’s food initiatives for their high caliber.
According to Lopez-Wisely, White Pony Express delivers a wide range of goods, including meat, bread, fruit, and eggs. The food is of excellent quality and is fresh. Much of it is healthful and organic.
In Contra Costa County, White Pony Express has established school pantries at sixteen locations. The pantries, which are open on school grounds once or twice a week, provide free or reduced-price lunches to at least 80% of the kids.
“I am aware that my daughter’s lunch isn’t always as nourishing as it could be,” Birge said.
Additionally, White Pony Express has taken action to increase the size of its facilities.
According to Birge, we have moved to a larger location in Concord with additional refrigerator room. We can provide more food and keep more in the refrigerator.
White Pony Express services may become even more essential in uncertain and difficult economic times as a means of connecting surplus food with those in need of nutrition.
“Our goal is to change people’s lives,” Birge stated. Our goal is to provide high-quality food to our neighbors who have the lowest incomes.
The East Bay Times, The Mercury News, and Bay Area News Group run the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Share the Spirit, which raises funds for charitable causes in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to give East Bay citizens hope, relief, and opportunities.
White Pony Express will use the donations to start cutting down on its 70-agency waitlist and extend its school pantry program to 16 schools. Currently serving 35,000 children, the program delivers nutritious, fresh food that is ready to eat to schools where at least 80% of kids are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
You can either print and mail this form or visit sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate.
See sharethespiriteastbay.org for more tales.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
