North State Food Bank is located in Oroville, California, which collects and distributes food throughout six counties in Northern California, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Pluma, Sierra, and Tehama counties. The Food Bank has multiple programs that provide low income families with the nutritious food they need each month. One in five Northern California residents face food insecurity. Each month North State Food Bank serves an average of 45,000 residents who face food insecurity and hunger. 

North State Food Bank says, “The poverty rate in Butte County from 2009-2013 was 20.4% with a much higher rate in Oroville (38.6%). While incomes have improved for many, a large and growing percentage of the population has not experienced income gains sufficient to escape poverty. Unemployment is typically higher than the state average, which was 15.9% in the same time period. So with this poverty level there are families in our community who are going hungry every day, because their income isn’t high enough to allow them to purchase enough food.” 

How North State Food Bank Serves the Community 

North State Food Bank has three main programs that provides nutritious, healthy food to low income residents. The Commodity Distributions program distributes food boxes to more than 3,000 income eligible households each month throughout five counties in Northern California. Another one of North State’s main programs is the Tailgate Distribution program, which takes place between Spring and Fall, where fresh, seasonal produce is distributed to more than 300 families per event. At these events, information booths are also available to provide nutrition education. 

Through their Farm 2 Kids program, North State Food Bank provides fresh produce that’s distributed to low-income students at schools and recreational sites throughout Butte Country. In addition, the Food Bank provides produce for Kid’s Farmers Markets hosted at elementary schools with a high percentage of low-income families. During each event North State Food Bank donates more than 3,500 pounds of produce and says that, “these events help children to “shop” for fresh vegetables and fruit, to learn about healthy eating, and to have fun at the same time.”

Going Solar with RE-volv

By going solar with RE-volv, North State Food Bank’s 106 kW solar system will save the Food Bank more than $833,700 off the cost of electricity over the solar system’s lifetime. With these savings, North State Food Bank can provide additional healthy, nutritious food to income eligible children and families each month. 

By going solar with RE-volv, North State Food Bank’s electricity rates will be locked in throughout their 20-year Solar Lease. This ensures that their cost of electricity is stable, even when utility electricity prices increase, which will provide the Food Bank with additional financial security. As North State Food Bank pays back RE-volv for the cost of their solar system, their monthly Solar Lease payments will be added to RE-volv’s Solar Seed Fund, a revolving fund for solar used to bring solar to more nonprofits across the country