Yuba River Endowment poses with their donation to Yuba Sutter Food Bank. Photo courtesy of Yuba River Endowment. 

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – In their fifth such donation, Yuba County farmers who are part of the non-profit group Yuba River Endowment, have delivered 16,000 pounds of locally grown rice to the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. The rice, valued at over $13,000, will be distributed to over a dozen Yuba County Food Pantries.

“Food insecurity has continued to grow in our region, and now with continued inflation we are again seeing a massive need for staples like rice,” said Maria Ball, CEO of the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. “This same bag of rice costs 50% more than it did a couple years ago. This donation is a true blessing for thousands of families in Yuba County.”

Previous rice donations were made in April 2020; February 2021; November 2021; and September 2022. With this current donation, 80,000 pounds of rice have been delivered to date.

“Our motto for the Endowment is ‘Local Farmers Giving Back,’ and there’s no better way we as farmers can help our community than by supplying our locally grown food,” said Yuba River Endowment President, Al Lassaga.

The Yuba River Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Yuba County farmers. Since formation in late 2019, the Endowment has donated over $700,000 to support Yuba County ag education, provide food resources, veteran’s support, and much more.

The Yuba River Endowment was established by a select group of Yuba County farmers who have a right to water that flows on the Yuba River. While it did not happen last year, in some years the farmers are able to transfer a portion of their water to drought-stricken areas of the state. Proceeds from these transfers provide the funding for the Yuba River Endowment.

Founded in 1983, the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank is leading the fight against food insecurity through community partnerships in the Yuba-Sutter area. They presently serve over 25,000 people every month and distribute over 3 million pounds of food a year.

“As farmers, we are long-term members of the community,” Lassaga said. “Our roots are here and if there’s something we can help with, we’re going to do it.”

To learn more about the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank, visit www.feedingys.org. To follow the Yuba River Endowment on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/yubariverendowment