Moved by Plight of a Homeless Vet, Elk Grove Resident Donates $100,000 to Food Bank For Veteran Services

February 13, 2017 |

The Elk Grove Food Bank Service (EGFBS) announced this morning that an Elk Grove resident donated $100,000 to the community services organization.

The donation came from Lawrence H. Kay who asked the money be used to create a new program under the umbrella of EGFBS for Veterans. The program will be called the Kay Veterans Assistance Program and will be an annual donation from the Kay Family Trust to the Food Bank.

Kay, a distinguished labor law attorney who recently retired, made the donation after a recent hospitalization where he shared a room with a homeless veteran. Moved by the experiences related by his roommate, Kay committed to helping the homeless and disabled veterans in Elk Grove.  

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the philanthropic endeavor and humanitarian effort from Lawrence H. Kay and the Kay Family Trust for this generous gift," Marie Jachino, Executive Director of Elk Grove Food Bank Services said. "We are excited to share the passion of this new program and form a collaboration of resource partners. We want to also encourage women veterans to use the program.” 

Mr. Kay’s daughter, Jaclyn Kay serves on the Board of Directors at EGFBS. She is also the owner of Elk Grove Insurance.

“Elk Grove is such an important community," Kay said in making the donation. "And it is my commitment, along with my family to assist those who have served.”

Founded in 1974, Elk Grove Food Bank Services is a local non-profit organization serving families and individuals in need with food, clothing and support services to over 4,000 people each month. Over time the Food Bank has expanded to meet the growing needs of the Elk Grove community and South County. Last year, EGFBS distributed over two million pounds of food and over 429,000 meals.  The mission of the Food Bank is “to preserve dignity against the many faces of hunger and human need.” For more information visit: www.elkgrovefoodbank.org.