On a wet and cold Saturday morning, the Yolo Food Bank and its partner agencies capped off a week of giving for Yolo County residents with three meal kit distribution events, including one for Woodland families at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, located at 1250 Gum Ave.

Starting at 8 a.m., dozens of devoted volunteers from various groups or organizations around Woodland distributed over 500 meal kits to the hundreds of cars lined up in the fairgrounds parking lot off Gum.

In total, the Yolo Food Bank has distributed over 2,220 kits across Yolo County this past week.

“Despite the rain, more than 60 volunteers showed up today at the Yolo County Fairgrounds to help Yolo Food Bank distribute Thanksgiving meal kits,” said Maria Segoviano, the YFB’s director of development and communications. “This is a beloved tradition in Woodland — we have groups like La Obra, Kiwanis Club, folks from Dinner on Main, and others who come back year after year to volunteer! It’s so inspiring to see new and familiar faces.”

The event was first come, first served and either drive-through or walk-up. To be eligible for a meal kit, individuals must have been a resident of Yolo County or the specific area where the distribution event took place and needed to provide proof of residence along with pre-registering where required.

Each meal kit included a turkey, a variety of fresh seasonal produce, dry goods for stuffing and gravy and other ingredients to complete a classic Thanksgiving meal.

“People were so grateful to receive these Thanksgiving meal kits,” Segoviano said. “Even after waiting in line for hours, the second they saw the trucks arrive with food, their faces lit up. I talked to a group of walk-up food recipients and some told me they had walked more than five blocks in the rain and waited for hours to get their food. Yolo Food Bank is here to provide a hand to people who may need it for one day, one week, one year, or longer. It makes all the difference if we can give them one less thing to worry about.”

The Yolo County Children’s Alliance hosted the first distribution event in Clarksburg at 52910 Netherlands Dr. That same day, the Food Bank served the residents of Guinda and the areas of Brooks and Rumsey at 52910 Netherlands Dr.

On Nov. 15, Dunnigan residents picked up kits at 2501 County Road 88. On Nov. 16, Empower Yolo hosted two events, one for Yolo and Zamora residents at 37817 Sacramento St. and one for Knights Landing residents at 9586 Mill St.

On Nov. 17, RISE Inc. also hosted two events, the first for Esparto residents at 17317 Fremont St. and then for Winters residents at 417 Haven St. The Madison Community Committee Food Closet hosted Madison residents at 28963 Main St.

On Saturday, along with the distribution event in Woodland, was the Davis event that took place at the Pole Line Road Baptist Church and the YCCA event in West Sacramento, where 700 meal kits, along with other valuable resources, were given out during the Alliance’s 18th annual Community Giveaway Day.

“I am so grateful to all of the volunteers and donors who made this possible,” Segoviano said. “If you’re in a position to donate, we ask that you consider giving a gift to our Yolo Gives and Gathers campaign: http://yolofb.org/ygg2023. We haven’t met our goal and it would mean the world to have your support — you’ll be giving the gift of gathering to neighbors in need this holiday season.”