Dozens lined up at food aid site in American Canyon turned away after parking fiasco
A monthly food distribution hub at Fairgrounds Mobile Estates was shut down after 20 minutes by mobile park management after nearly 100 clients ran out of parking space and began blocking employee spots and parking in red zones along Flosden Road in American Canyon.
“For 20 minutes, we had 73 people. And we still had a line,” said said Pat Randolph, founder of all-volunteer, all-woman run Incredible Blessings 4 U. Randolph is an American Canyon resident; she knows her clients well. She makes sure to never turn anyone away, no questions asked.
At 2:20 p.m., according to Randolph, the manager’s space was blocked, and she couldn’t leave. When clients wouldn’t quit their spot in line, the manager called a tow company and told Randolph and her team to pack up the van and head out.
A tow truck started towing cars of people waiting in line, which was getting longer. There are around 40 parking spots at Fairgrounds, most of them occupied by tenants. Parking along the adjacent Flosden Road is illegal, so options for those seeking food aid are slim.
“People started running for their cars,” said Randolph. “I’ve been doing this 10 years; it’s my second year [at Fairgrounds],” she said. But this was the first time she’s ever been shut down. By 2:45 p.m., the team of five was loading hundreds of pounds of undistributed food back into the van. People continued to show up after 3 p.m., but were turned away. One woman, rushing to make it to the distribution after work with her mom, said she didn’t have another option that week.
The pantry’s set-up is a lot like a farmer’s market, and families are encouraged to “bring your bags and shop.” It’s one of the most popular food aid sites in the area. From 2-5 p.m. each month at Fairgrounds, Incredible Blessings 4 U brings towering crates of fresh lettuce, avocados, cucumbers, chicken, ground beef and bread, plus second-hand clothes, toys and new kids’ books. They also distribute food around Vallejo and other sites in American Canyon.
There aren’t a lot of ways for people to get to Incredible Blessings 4 U’s distribution site aside from driving. Even from Highway 29 to Fairgrounds, a five-minute drive becomes a 30-plus minute bus trip, and a number of clients are elderly or come with their families.
“I understand they can walk, but they can’t carry the groceries,” said Fe Damian, a volunteer with Incredible Blessings 4 U.
Magda Tucker, a resident of Fairgrounds, was sympathetic to Randolph’s situation. She doesn’t typically have issues with management. “I was raised with nothing; I grew up in an orphanage. Food is a necessity for every person.” said Tucker, who volunteers with Randolph’s team.
“It’s a lot of work,” Tucker said. “To set up, to come early; it’s not just providing the food. Wear and tear on the car, setting up places.”
For next month, Randolph said she’s concerned about the parking situation. “I’m going to have to get creative — get a security guard,” she said. She anticipates more people next month, unless they’ve been scared off.
“It’s growing,” she said of client numbers. “It’s between 90 and 105 a month, but the need is growing.”
Fairgrounds Mobile Estates could not be reached for comment.
