A visit from Dr. Oz

April 30 proved to be a busy and rewarding day at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS). SFBFS hosted a special food distribution at the Saca Community Learning Center in north Sacramento. The goal was to highlight the Food program's unique and effective approach to serving families in need. Dr. Oz and his wife Lisa arrived with members of HealthCorps for a visit at 2:30pm.

Over the next 45 minutes, SFBFS' President/CEO Blake Young introduced Dr. Oz to SFBFS' approach on combating hunger and poor nutrition in Sacramento. SFBFS' crew of dedicated volunteers showcased the health and nutrition stations where nurses took blood glucose screenings and shared tips on preventing osteoporosis. 


Garden volunteers handed out tomato seedlings and encouraged families to grow their own groceries. 

Talented volunteers diced and prepared veggies for a fresh salad sampling, exposing families to a few new recipes they can make at home with their goods.



Amazing volunteers bagged and distributed fresh broccoli, spinach, potatoes, onions, cabbage, tomatoes and more to each family.

Several hundred families received food and enjoyed the opportunity to ask Dr. Oz health related questions. Dr. Oz expressed gratitude to each volunteer in attendance and took the time to listen to challenges facing clients in Sacramento.

SFBFS' approach to removing many barriers that face Sacramento families was featured in a Wizard of Oz themed game at HealthCorps' Journey to Oz later that evening.

Combating and removing barriers faced by families in our community, such as transportation, hours of operation, food deserts and lack of education about nutrition, is one way SFBFS fulfills their mission of moving families toward self-sufficiency and financial independence.  Helping families with healthy food is the first step in helping someone improve their life.

SFBFS currently operates 12 food distributions every month throughout Sacramento. If you know of a family in need of fresh produce, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org for days, times and locations.