The Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus, formerly Inter-Faith Ministries of Greater Modesto, began over 40 years ago when a group of people from diverse backgrounds and faiths came together to serve the needy out of two small houses in downtown Modesto.  Motivated by love and united by faith, they set out to meet the most basic human needs by feeding and clothing the poor.

Our location and name have changed. Those little houses are gone. The population and need have grown—even our mission has evolved—but our hearts’ cries for goodness, justice, and provision have remained the same.

The people we serve experience an atmosphere where they are respected and empowered. We consider the physical AND emotional health of every life we touch, and do our best to direct our energy into their most foundational needs. As we learn more about those needs, we adapt.

We give healthy food through our Mobile Food Pantry, Food Coalition and Homebound Delivery Programs, and we offer clothing and address other physical needs through the Interfaith Clothes Closet. We also provide countless ways to get involved on the front lines of social good through our Volunteer Opportunities.

We serve the equivalent of over 3 million meals a year to our most vulnerable neighbors, where over 20% of our population lives below the poverty line.  This includes more than 36 THOUSAND children.  Thanks to programs like Gleaning & Gathering, we are able to distribute over 90 tons of fresh produce each year.

Hunger isn’t an abstract idea here.  Poverty isn’t just something we see on the news. They are quiet and pervasive afflictions that almost certainly affect someone you know.  At FIGS, we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with this community to fight for health in a tangible way.

Health is hope. Hope changes lives in more ways than we can count, but without you we are just a building, some lofty ideas, and some furniture. We can’t do this without you.