Bread of Life, a Stockton-based nonprofit, will distribute free frozen meat and other frozen food on Thursday, Aug. 6, after receiving an unexpected donation of two semi-truck loads of meat that exceeded its cold-storage capacity.
The giveaway, dubbed “From Freezer to Families,” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Weber Square. Families can receive packages of frozen boneless chicken breasts, frozen bacon, frozen vegetables, frozen fruit and other frozen foods while supplies last.
“We’re just showing up with a truck full of frozen foods,” Bread of Life founder Gina Valadez-Bracamonte said.
The distribution was organized after the nonprofit received three semi-truck loads of donated food last week, including two loads of frozen meat, much of it from Grocery Outlet.
“We just don’t have the capability to keep all of it frozen,” Valadez-Bracamonte said. “We have to give it away.”
Rather than decline the donation, the nonprofit partnered with local businesses and organizations to distribute and temporarily store the food. Dave Silva Trucking and Delta Bluegrass Company transported the donations at no cost, while Food 4 Less owner Chris Podesto and the Stockton-San Joaquin Emergency Food Bank stored dozens of pallets of frozen chicken.
“I didn’t want to turn it away because I know that there’s a need in Stockton,” Valadez-Bracamonte said. “With inflation and the high cost of food, the people who live here could use the help.”
The event is expected to move quickly, with volunteers distributing bags or boxes of frozen food directly from refrigerated trucks. Attendees are asked to remain in their vehicles. Parking is available near the corner of Park and North Van Buren streets. Organizers said participants will not need to show identification and will be asked only for basic contact information and household size.
The giveaway is separate from Bread of Life’s regular food distribution program, which includes 20 other food distributions throughout August at churches, schools and community organizations in Stockton, Tracy, Manteca, French Camp and Lodi.
Valadez-Bracamonte said the nonprofit strives to create a welcoming experience for anyone seeking assistance.
“We want people to know they can come, and there’s no judgment,” Valadez-Bracamonte said. “We want to treat people with respect and kindness.”
Residents who cannot attend the Thursday, Aug. 6, giveaway can visit one of Bread of Life’s other August food distributions:
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location: 1002 W. 8th St. in Stockton
Public Safety Day
Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: 221 N. Center St. in Stockton
Mosswood Park Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: 2315 S. Lincoln St. in Stockton
The Center
Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 1508 S. Sutter St. in Stockton
Manteca Community Emergency Response Team
Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 580 Moffat Blvd. in Manteca
Victory in Praise Church
Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 2029 E. Harding Way in Stockton
Artessi 3
Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 333 W. Mathews Road in French Camp
City on the Hill Mission Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 11176 W. Larch Road in Tracy
Lifesong Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 4950 Claremont Ave. in Stockton
Solid Rock Valley Church of God in Christ
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 1601 N. Tracy Blvd. in Tracy
Victory Outreach
Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 2725 Waterloo Road in Stockton
Village East
Date: Thursday, Aug. 20
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 337 S. Burkett Ave. in Stockton
Quail Lakes Baptist Church
Date: Friday, Aug. 21
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 1904 Quail Lakes Drive in Stockton
Prevail
Date: Friday, Aug. 21
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 620 N. San Joaquin St. in Stockton
Artessi 2
Date: Friday, Aug. 21
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 777 W. Mathews Road in French Camp
Carson Oaks Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Location: 6509 Alturas Ave. in Stockton
Vintage Church
Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 444 W. Turner Road in Lodi
The Open Door House of Prayer
Date: Saturday, Aug. 22
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: 48 W. Poplar St. in Stockton
Axis Church
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 25
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 1414 W. Park St. in Stockton
Pulliam Elementary School
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 26
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: 230 Presidio Way in Stockton
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Bread of Life adds special Stockton food giveaway to August distributions
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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By Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
