Our HistoryFallbrook Mission Project was formed in 1991 as a religious service organization to offer economic assistance, emotional support and spiritual nurturing while promoting client self-esteem and dignity. Its work included providing shelter, food, and clothing and helping with medical needs. In 2005 the pantry moved away from its religious status, became an official 501(c)3 and changed its name to the Fallbrook Food Pantry. With a 30-year history of service to Fallbrook, we are deeply ingrained and involved in the community and have earned the trust of our clients and stakeholders. We focus on building strong personal relationships reflecting the small, rural enclave that makes up the Fallbrook region, and we know all our clients personally. Our semi-isolated community is far from the larger services of the city of San Diego, so our population relies on and trusts FFP to meet the complex needs of our diverse clientele. Annually, serve 50,000 households, supplying over 1.5 million pounds of food. This translates to 5,598 unduplicated individuals each year.
The Pantry has made significant headway in putting healthy food on families’ tables since 1991. But the need became clear to create a more holistic model to affect system change in more profound ways through education. Therefore, thanks to the community’s generosity, a successful capital campaign led to the 2019 purchase of a new building and a state-of-the-art Learning Center. We established our first nutrition class in 2021. Since then, FFP education initiatives have grown exponentially from one course that supported less than 100 clients to now offering more than seven courses that support over 400 clients annually, recording more than 6,500 classroom hours of learning during our first year of educational services. We are in a stage of strategic and dynamic growth to expand the program even further in scope and impact.
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity in Fallbrook and San Diego County is a complex issue resulting from poverty, inflation, lack of affordable housing, low wages, racial inequities, lack of access to affordable nutritious food, health problems, and high medical costs. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated food insecurity for many individuals and families due to job losses, reduced hours, and other economic challenges.
FFP programs are especially critical in rural areas like Fallbrook where residents live in a “food desert.” Fewer grocery stores and limited availability of healthy, affordable food is associated with high-calorie and less nutritious food, leading to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. What’s more, rural areas like ours, experience “persistent poverty” compared to urban counterparts—higher poverty rates over a long period. Economic instability, high housing costs, lack of job opportunities, and limited transportation options contribute to food insecurity in our vulnerable community. Alternatively, the strengths of rural communities are the strong social ties between people and a deep connection to locally run organizations. Our programs build upon these strengths to provide holistic services that nourish and educate the mind, body and soul.
