Modesto Love Center Ministries
The Modesto Love Center was established by Pastor Jerry and Susan Quillen in 1985 in response to President Reagan's request that churches take a more active role in the fight against hunger.
The Modesto Love Center continues to provide hundreds of emergency food baskets per month, representing over 3 million meals distributed to low-income individuals. The Modesto Love Center Ministries has expanded over the years to include Highways & Hedges, an outreach to the homeless, and the "One More Time" Community Thrift Store.
In 1994 the need for a food bank in Stanislaus County became apparent and in August of that year, with the support of the Food Coalition members, the Quillen's established the Modesto-Riverbank-Stanislaus County Food Bank, Inc. Stanislaus County Food Bank is now one of the largest food banks in the tri-county area, distributing over 4.5 million pounds of food annually through over 200 non-profit emergency food providers. After five years dedicated to ensuring a strong foundation, the Quillen's released the food bank a community-based board of directors on January 1, 2000.
Six years of experience with EFSP (formally FEMA) and CDBG grant management gives us valuable experience in gathering and reporting grant specific data such as ethnicity, income, single head of household, etc., as well as familiarity with the general accounting practices as set forth in the OMB Circular A-133. Our agency's ability to manage large caseloads and complex distribution systems, coupled with a large volunteer base, uniquely position the Modesto Love Center Ministries to bring the CSFP to Stanislaus County.