Woodland Food Closet

Woodland Food Closet is a volunteer-based nonprofit that provides temporary immediate nutritional and hygienic support for individuals and families in need of such services.

Originally established in 1968 as a response to a Yolo County Grand Jury report that saw a need for the formation of a food distribution source in the Woodland area, Woodland Food Closet now has more than 70 volunteers and one part-time executive director governed by a community-based board of directors.

The organization’s primary objective is to provide three days of nutritionally balanced meals to every referred individual in an emergency or crisis situation or waiting for other assistance to begin. As part of the California SB 1383 Edible Food Recovery Program, vendors provide Woodland Food Closet with excess consumable food that would normally be sent to the landfill. This is aided by SB 1383, which requires cities, in coordination with their county, to divert organic waste from landfills into recycling activities and food recovery organizations. From there, the food is picked up, delivered and sorted at the nonprofit’s facility by volunteers.

With clients ranging from individuals, families, seniors, children and infants, Woodland Food Closet provides nine meals per family member. Clients are limited to two visits per month, though the organization will direct individuals in need of long-term assistance to the Department of Employment and Social Services to explore other options.

The nonprofit relies on community support and participates in four annual fundraising events: Season of Caring, Big Day of Giving, Scouting for Food and its Annual Summer Mailer campaign.

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