WHITE PONY EXPRESS TO ACQUIRE NEW DELIVERY VEHICLE

By: Fred Stambaugh

Health officials estimate an overall food-insecurity rate in Contra Costa County of 10 percent (some 83,000 individuals). It is higher among children, 11.8 percent. Both figures are up roughly two percentage points since the official onset of the pandemic in March of 2020.

Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary has completed Phase 1 of a project to purchase a new refrigerated delivery van, raising over $83,000 thus far. Phase 1 funds the purchase of the vehicle; Phase 2, which is expected to complete in the next few months, is the purchase and installation of a refrigeration unit.

Delivery vans pick up perishable food at grocery stores and restaurants for transport to the White Pony Express (WPE) distribution center, where it will undergo a thorough culling and sorting by volunteers. Vans then transport high-quality perishable food to more than 80 partner agencies serving Contra Costa County’s most vulnerable populations. All this takes place within 24 hours, seven days a week.

Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary spearheaded the campaign. Substantial contributions were received from many generous individuals and organizations, including fourteen local Rotary Clubs. They are the Rotary Clubs of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise, Concord, Concord-Diablo, Hercules, Lafayette, Lamorinda Sunrise, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Rossmoor, Walnut Creek, and Walnut Creek Sunrise. Additionally, sizeable grants were received from Rotary District 5160, Mechanics Bank, and the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

Informed of the success of the campaign, Eve Berge, WPE executive director, commented, “This is such incredible news! I am totally awed! Oh, happy day!” As if to underscore her excitement, she included a picture of a happy WPE “customer.”