YUBA CITY, CA – (MPG) – Local farmers who are part of the non-profit group Yuba River Endowment, delivered 7,800 bags of locally grown rice to the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. The rice, valued at almost $10,000, will be distributed to over a dozen Yuba County Food Pantries.

“In 2020 our food distribution increased 70% due to COVID hardships,” said Michelle Downing, CEO of the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank. “We anticipate 1 in 5 local residents will experience food insecurity during this pandemic. This rice will feed over 7,000 families, and we are forever grateful.”

This is the second recent substantial donation by the Yuba River Endowment to the Food Bank. In early April, 2020, as the pandemic devastated the Yuba-Sutter economy, state and federal funds were slow to materialize. The Endowment donated $20,000 to the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank in a combination of rice and cash.

“Our motto for the Endowment is ‘Local Farmers Giving Back,’ and right now during this crisis there’s no better way we as farmers can help our community than by supplying food,” said Yuba River Endowment President, Al Lassaga.

The Yuba River Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Yuba County farmers. Since formation in late 2019, the Endowment has donated over $160,000 to support Yuba County ag education, provide food resources, veteran’s support, and much more.

The Yuba River Endowment was established by a select group of Yuba County farmers who have a right to water that flows on the Yuba River. In a truly win-win situation, the farmers’ water is used to provide the required flow levels to protect endangered fishes on the Yuba River, then once past this critical point, the water can be sold to drought-stricken areas of the state. Proceeds from these transfers provide the funding for the Yuba River Endowment.

“As farmers, we are long-term members of the community,” Lassaga said. “Our roots are here and if there’s something we can help with, we’re going to do it.”

To learn more about the Yuba-Sutter Food Bank, visit www.feedingys.org. To follow the Yuba River Endowment on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/yubariverendowment.