My Nonprofit Reviews

I retired in 2012 and knew I wanted to volunteer right away. At the time we moved to Nipomo and I saw R.S.VP. volunteer services advertised. I gave them a call and found out that the Nipomo Food Basket needed volunteers to serve the needy in our community of Nipomo. I am working on my 5th year there now and work with a great group of volunteers. We partner with several different organizations to purchase or receive food from our local growers as well as the Food Bank of Santa Barbara county and SLO county, also Vons, Trader Joe's, Lion's Club in Nipomo in connection with high school students at Nipomo HS who help people with gleaning fruit trees on their properties. I love what I do there! We have many regular clients we serve every week including the homeless, who count on us to be there to help them with free food in these difficult times. We also have recently received some Federal Grant money to purchase some freezers, thermometers, insulated blankets all to keep the food cold and preserved. Many local folks in Nipomo also donate food and/or money on a regular basis to help cover some of the costs that go along with such a business. When possible, we also give out toys and other necessary items to our clients and their children over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It feels so good to be able to put a smile on someone's face or give them a handshake or hug when they come in each week!