Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Founded by local restaurateurs Francie Nguyen, Jimmy Plouff & Frankie Victoria Banuelos in 2020, the Vallarta Food Bank continues to expand as volunteers work to try to make a positive change in the community that goes beyond feeding Puerto Vallarta families struggling to survive the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the help of willing volunteers, Chef Victor and his small staff plan and prepare meals five days a week for 500-600 people. That’s over 100,000 hot and healthy meals per year served out of the food bank kitchen. And, in just one year, the Vallarta Food Bank staff and volunteers have distributed over 400 metric tons of food all around the greater Puerto Vallarta area.
Frankie Victoria, speaking on behalf of the founders of this grassroots movement, tells us what’s been happening, and what’s to come, at the Vallarta Food Bank:
To date, we have made and distributed 67,000 bags of food, known as “despensas.” Each bag provides a week’s worth of food for a small family. Baby diapers, formula, adult diapers, dog food, etc. are distributed as well. We started the soup kitchen in August 2020 and have since served over 60,000 meals.
These numbers are possible because of your incredible generosity. Your monthly support is the lifeline that keeps Vallarta Food Bank going. But we’ve seen a steady decrease in sponsorship with 2-3 donors canceling each month. As we get ready for the upcoming raining season, please consider donating, so we can continue working for families in need.
If you would like to donate, the best way is by using our GoFundMe page.
We Are Excited to Announce the Vallarta Food Bank Online Bazaar!
Thanks to numerous and generous donors, we have set up a Vallarta Food Bank Online Bazaar on Facebook where you can purchase some unique items while supporting our non-profit organization.
The items will vary from artwork and knickknacks to household treasures, mechanical tools, electronics, patio furniture, etc. You name it, you’ll probably find it! New items will be featured on a regular basis, so please check our shop regularly.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the items, or would like to donate something to help us raise funds, please contact Frankie at: vallartafoodbankbazar(at)gmail.com.
As always, to learn more, volunteer, or donate please visit vallartafoodbank.com, and be sure to like/follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what we are doing!
The Vallarta Food Bank is 100% volunteer based, but all of their work would be impossible without the generosity of donors and supporters. If you would like to help the families of Puerto Vallarta get through these trying times, please visit vallartafoodbank.com for donation information. If you would like to receive a U.S. tax receipt for your donation, please visit casajojofoundation.org.