Growing Hope in Fair Oaks: Rotary’s $10,000 Gift Brings Year-Round Freshness to Our Neighbors

Fair Oaks and Orangevale Come Together to Support the Community Food Bank

It is always a pleasure to gather with people who care about this community.

At the recent joint mixer hosted by the Fair Oaks and Orangevale Chambers of Commerce, local leaders, business owners, volunteers, and neighbors gathered to connect, catch up, and learn more about the work being done through the Orangevale Fair Oaks Community Foundation.

Events like this truly highlight why living here is so special. It’s a place where you can run into familiar faces you haven’t seen in a while, and if you’re like me, you might accidentally talk their ear off (sorry, Angela!). Beyond the catch-ups, you meet new neighbors who are just as passionate about making a difference, leaving you with the best kind of reminder: this community is built on people who genuinely care about one another.

A major highlight of the night was hearing from Brad Squires. As the founder and CEO of the Community Foundation, he shared a firsthand look at the life-changing work happening right here in Fair Oaks, Orangevale, and Citrus Heights.

During the gathering, members of the Fair Oaks Rotary Club presented a generous $10,000 donation to support the Orangevale Fair Oaks Food Bank and the Community Foundation’s programs. Contributions like this help sustain services that assist thousands of local families each year.

The food bank alone serves more than 40,000 people annually throughout Fair Oaks, Orangevale, and nearby communities. Much of that work is made possible through an incredible network of volunteers and partnerships with local grocery stores that donate food that would otherwise go to waste. Volunteers collect and redistribute these items to families who need them most.

Brad shared that the need for services has grown significantly over the past year as many families face rising costs and economic uncertainty. Despite that increase, the community has continued to step forward through food drives, donations, and volunteer support to help keep the program running.

The Orangevale Fair Oaks Community Foundation also operates several other meaningful programs that support residents throughout the area. One of those initiatives is the Teen Council leadership program, which helps local teens serve their community while developing leadership skills through hands-on projects and service opportunities.

Another impactful effort is the HART program, short for Homeless Assistance Resource Team. Volunteers provide weekly outreach, including showers, meals, and connections to services, for individuals experiencing homelessness. Over the past year alone, more than 35 people have secured housing through this program.

Brad also highlighted an exciting addition next door to the food bank. With support from the Fair Oaks Rotary Club, a new high tunnel greenhouse has been installed, allowing volunteers to grow fresh produce even during colder months. Lettuce and other vegetables grown there are now being distributed directly to families through the food bank.

Looking ahead, the Community Foundation is preparing for its annual Big Day of Service. Now in its eighth year, the community-wide volunteer event will take place on May 16, beginning at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks. Organizers hope to complete 75 service projects across the area, bringing together hundreds of volunteers to improve parks, schools, and community spaces.

The Orangevale Fair Oaks Food Bank is one of those quiet pillars of the community. It is there for families who find themselves going through a difficult season, offering support when it is needed most. Just as often, many of the same people who once received help later return as volunteers or donors once they are back on their feet.

That cycle of neighbors helping neighbors is what gives this community its strength.

Evenings like this are a reminder that the real power of Fair Oaks and Orangevale is not just in the organizations and programs that serve the community, but in the people who continue to show up for one another. It is one of the many reasons living here feels less like a place and more like a community.

Join the Movement: Get Involved Today

The strength of Fair Oaks and Orangevale comes from people like you. Whether you have a few hours to volunteer or a few dollars to donate, here is how you can support the organizations mentioned in this story:

• Save the Date: Big Day of Service Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 16, 2026! Join hundreds of neighbors for a city-wide day of community improvement projects. Sign up at BigDayOfService.us
• Support HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team) Help provide showers, meals, and housing transitions for our unhoused neighbors. Your support helps move people off the streets and into homes. Learn more about HART & Get Involved
• Support the Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank. Help provide fresh produce and essentials to over 40,000 people annually. You can donate funds, drop off food, or sign up for a volunteer shift. Donate or Volunteer at OVFOfoodbank.org
• Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Foundation The umbrella for programs like the Teen Council and local service initiatives. Visit OVFOCF.org
• Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Dedicated to “Service Above Self,” the Rotary Club leads major local projects like the Food Bank greenhouse. Learn more at RotaryFairOaks.org