When Valley Churches United Executive Director Danny Reber came to a recent meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Scotts Valley, he expected to talk about ways the service club could help.
What he didn’t expect was for the conversation to lead to a much-needed commercial refrigerator.
Reber explained to the group that Valley Churches’ food pantry was receiving more perishable donations than it could safely store. Eggs, milk, cheese and fresh produce were particularly difficult to manage. Without enough refrigeration, perfectly good food sometimes had to be given away immediately or turned down altogether.
The Kiwanis members decided to help.
“We contribute annually to Valley Churches, typically around Christmas,” said Kiwanis President Frank Cheap. “This year, we just accelerated it and put a little bit more in to be able to help purchase the refrigerator.”
“The morning we plugged it in, it was full the first day already,” added Reber.
The new commercial refrigerator is doing more than providing extra space. It is changing what Valley Churches can accept and how long it can keep food available for the families it serves.
Fresh berries from Driscoll’s arrive on Thursdays, while the pantry operates through the week. Before Valley Churches received the refrigerator, those berries might not have been usable by the time the pantry reopened. Now, they can be stored and distributed to families instead of going to waste.
Valley Churches serves approximately 30 to 40 households each pantry day. With distributions Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and every other Friday, the need for dependable cold storage quickly adds up.
“We need enough items for 30 households — 30 sets of eggs, 30 gallons of milk, 30 cheeses,” said Linda Meyer, Valley Churches’ operations manager. “We were having to turn away some stuff or be sure and get it out, or it would go bad.”
The refrigerator means pantry volunteers can distribute those perishable staples more equitably throughout the week.
Kiwanis’ involvement with Valley Churches goes beyond the new fridge. Club members regularly volunteer at the pantry, sorting food and helping wherever they are needed.
“I feel like you guys are a part of the team,” Reber told the Kiwanis members.
That spirit of service is at the heart of Kiwanis, whose primary focus is supporting children and youth. The Scotts Valley club raises money for the Scotts Valley Unified School District, particularly for music and arts programs, while also supporting such organizations as Big Brothers Big Sisters and participating in community projects, including highway cleanup.
The club also sponsors an annual holiday gift exchange at Shadowbrook restaurant, where one member traditionally takes on the role of Santa Claus.
The Scotts Valley Kiwanis currently has nearly 20 members, a notable achievement at a time when many service clubs are experiencing declining membership. Even more encouraging, members say, is the number of younger people joining.
“Most service clubs are declining nationally,” said member Jim Melehan. “But we are growing, and we’re growing surprisingly and beautifully with younger members.”
For Cheap, the partnership with Valley Churches has also offered an opportunity to learn more about an organization he believes fills an important role in the community.
“I knew this much about them before Danny came in and told us the whole pitch,” Cheap said, using his fingers to illustrate a small amount. “The amount of people in need they help was tremendous.”
Valley Churches began in the aftermath of the January 1982 floods and has remained privately funded, relying heavily on community donations and volunteers. That independence has become particularly important as government funding for food programs faces reductions.
“We have never taken government money,” Reber said. “We’re seeing increased need for sure, but our community, in turn, steps up to build that.”
Reber said Valley Churches United is already seeing shortages from partner organizations, such as Second Harvest Food Bank, and expects to begin its annual food drive earlier this year because of the reduced supply.
While cash donations are generally the most flexible form of support, Reber said donated food is also urgently needed. Thanks to Valley Churches’ extensive volunteer network, food donated directly to the organization can reach a family’s table relatively quickly.
The Kiwanis refrigerator may seem like a simple piece of equipment, but its impact reaches far beyond the pantry’s walls. It means eggs can remain available throughout the week, fresh produce can be saved rather than discarded, and most importantly, it means volunteers can say “yes” more often when someone offers food to help a neighbor.
For the members of Kiwanis, that is precisely the point.
“Part of Kiwanis is donating to the community, giving back to the community,” Cheap said. “But I think this is more about Valley Churches. It’s a fabulous organization.”
And for Reber, the new partnership is just beginning.
“I’m grateful for the relationship we started,” he said. “I look forward to seeing where the relationship goes.”
To support Valley Churches, visit vcum.org. To support and learn more about Scotts Valley Kiwanis, visit svkiwanis.org/about-us.
