The all-volunteer organization is celebrating 40 years of service throughout 2024

ATASCADERO — ALF Food Pantry welcomed its Board of Directors for 2024. ALF delivered almost 600,000 pounds of quality groceries to food-insecure residents of Atascadero, Templeton, Santa Margarita, Creston, and California Valley in 2023. The all-volunteer organization is celebrating 40 years of service throughout 2024.

The new board members include Chris Cross, Casandra Blangsted, Bill Parente, Tim Eckles, David Pearl, Beth Hagenauer, Linda Albright, Jeanne Robbins, Linda Chandor, Lynne Martin, and Susan Macari.

Tim Eckles, ALF Food Pantry president, said, “Our dedicated board and volunteers are committed to serving our community. With client numbers increasing by 20 percent each year and food costs rising dramatically, we need more contributions and volunteers to continue our work.”

In 2022, ALF Food Pantry made a significant impact by distributing over 250 tons of nutritious food, equivalent to 306,000 meals. ALF’s clients come from diverse backgrounds, including older adults living solely on social security, parents dealing with disabilities, part-time or contract workers, and individuals facing crises such as hospitalization, layoffs, homelessness, or reduced working hours. A striking statistic is that almost half of the recipients are children.

In 2024, ALF Food Pantry is poised to celebrate its 40th anniversary of providing groceries to community members who are food insecure. It’s worth noting that ALF is the largest all-volunteer organization in San Luis Obispo County.

ALF Food Pantry operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and contributions to the cause are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

If you wish to donate, please use the QR code or send checks to 5411 El Camino Real, Atascadero. Donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to volunteer, visit alffoodpantry.org.

Feature Image: Board members for ALF Food Pantry in 2024 include (from left) Chris Cross, Casandra Blangsted, Bill Parente, Tim Eckles, David Pearl, Beth Hagenauer, Linda Albright, Jeanne Robbins, and Linda Chandor. Lynne Martin and Susan Macari are not pictured. Photo Courtesy of ALF Food Pantry