Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2018-2019 | Page 66

BRINGING HOPE TO FAMILIES
IN TIMES OF NEED
Z uckerman F amily F arms
DISTRIBUTION BY ZUCKERMAN PRODUCE
E S T . 19 7 8
"w
e have been deeply
involved in charities in
Stockton and San Joaquin
"S
erving as the oldest grain
and seed dealer in San
Joaquin County since 1902,
e are a small, down to
earth, friendly business
that takes pride in giving back
"w
e are proud to take a
special interest in what
we believe to be an important,
County. On-going donations our roots run deep in the to our community. Employ- charitable organization, Bread
of fresh produce and sup- community. We are pleased ees of our company gladly of Life. Many of our employees
port materials illustrates to support the Bread of Life volunteer their time at Bread of extend the philosophy of our
our commitment to the Charity and the work they Life’s grocery distribution. mission of Gina Valadez’s represent.
charity, Bread of Life.
— Ed Zuckerman
president, Zuckerman Family Farms
— Tim Grunsky
president, Phil O'Connell Grain
Company
D
riven by a heartfelt need to extend
a helping hand, Gina Valadez
founded Bread of Life in Stockton
to supply groceries to individuals
and families struggling to make ends
meet. Investing tremendous research,
time, and effort, Valadez quickly grew
the organization on inspiration and hard
work.
“In 2010 I officially launched Bread
of Life as a non-profit organization with
only $100 in the bank and a mission of
bringing hope to families in need," says
Valadez, president. The organization
now provides an average of 1,500
grocery baskets for the needy every
third Saturday of each month from five
locations – Stockton, East Stockton,
Lodi, Tracy, and Manteca – and will be in
Modesto soon.
“We’re actually supplying
communities with millions of dollars’
66
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CAPITAL REGION CARES 2018 | comstocksmag.com
— Rob Anglin
general manager , Delta Growers, Inc.
business throughout the local
community.
— Dennis Gardemeyer
CFO , Delta Bluegrass Company
donated items and assists individuals
worth of groceries,” notes Valadez.
with life-changing contributions
Each month Bread of Life receives
through their benevolence fund. “When
many truckloads of donated groceries,
someone is struggling to eat, anything
and proudly operates this amazing
else that goes wrong can be dire, so
organization with very little overhead
we help on a case-by-case basis,” she
and is extremely grateful for its
explains.
dedicated volunteers. Its success is due
Valadez builds relationships and
in large measure to the generosity of
caring individuals and local and regional respect for volunteers and those she
serves because, as she concludes,
businesses.
“People matter.” All those interested
“We are currently trying to
in helping Bread of Life help those
raise $175,000 for additional cold
in need can volunteer or donate at
storage capacity, our biggest current
breadoflifestockton.org.
need,” Valadez says. “We rent a
22,000-square-foot warehouse at a
discounted rate, but it has limited
functioning cold storage.”
A full-time credit manager for
Delta Bluegrass Company, Valadez
also commits her heart, soul, and time
to Bread of Life. Beyond providing
groceries, Bread of Life redistributes