Volunteers sort and prepare food donations at the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard. (Photo courtesy of Dawn Smith)
The Menifee Valley Community Cupboard has spent nearly three decades helping local families put food on the table, and now the nonprofit is asking the community for help of its own.
The organization recently launched a fundraising campaign with a goal of finding 1,000 people willing to donate at least $10 a month to help cover its growing operating expenses.
Executive Director Dawn Smith said rent for the Cupboard’s food pantry increased by more than 65 percent, while rent for its thrift shop increased by nearly 50 percent. The new rates recently took effect.
Smith said the increases came after a change in property ownership and the renewal of the organization’s lease.
“We expected an increase, but not as big an increase as we got hit with,” she said.
The thrift shop has helped cover the Cupboard’s operating expenses over the years, contributing approximately $150,000 annually after paying its own expenses. However, Smith said the higher rent will reduce the amount of money available to support the Cupboard’s food assistance programs.
The organization is also dealing with rising utility costs and fuel expenses for its trucks, which collect food donations daily.
“We’ve reached a point, in order to maintain the level of service, to ask directly for funds from the broader community,” Smith said.
The financial challenges come at a time when more residents are seeking food assistance.
Smith said the Cupboard has seen an increase in new clients, as well as people returning for help after previously being able to get by on their own.
The Cupboard provides enough food for more than 1 million meals each year, including emergency food assistance, food bags for local schoolchildren and deliveries to homebound residents.
Smith said many first-time visitors are surprised by how much food they receive. Instead of a small box of nonperishable items, they often leave with a grocery cart full of food.
“I have never had so many people have tears in their eyes when they leave,” she said.
To help reduce expenses, the Cupboard is also looking for additional volunteers at its thrift shop to help run the store. Smith said the organization hopes to recruit six to 12 people willing to work one four-hour shift each week, particularly those with cashiering or retail experience.
Meanwhile, the Cupboard is preparing to provide turkeys and grocery gift cards to residents receiving emergency food assistance for Thanksgiving. Similar assistance is planned for Christmas.
Residents interested in making recurring donations can contribute through Venmo at @mvcupboard or Zelle at endhunger@mvcupboard.org.
Anyone who needs food assistance can call the Community Cupboard at 951-301-4414 to speak with staff and schedule an appointment.
