April 12, 2011 > Technology support needed Technology support needed Local food bank seeks infrastructure assistance Submitted By Tri-City Volunteers New clients arrive daily, and more and more food is distributed to 6,000 families every month, However, Tri-City Volunteers (TCV) is still functioning with little more than pen and paper in this digital age. Demand is rising steadily every month, and lines of our clients sometimes extend around the building, TCV staff seeks more modern solutions for the growing demand for our services. Through their Technology Capital Campaign, TCV hopes to raise $30,000 in order to upgrade technological infrastructure to create a computerized client database, track volunteer hours, and simply run day-to-day activities with all the efficiency that comes with modern computer systems. According to Tri-City Volunteers' Executive Director, Melissa Ponchard, these funds "will permit us to process clients nearly five times as fast as we are currently able." These funds will also go towards training TCV staff and supporting their new technological infrastructure once it is built. In 2010, Tri-City Volunteers distributed 2.5 million pounds of food to over 13,000 Tri-City residents. TCV operates a food bank/thrift store, and provides groceries free of charge to families in the Tri-Cities area, as well as clothing, furniture and lunches for the homeless. TCV was founded in 1970. To help Tri-City Volunteers, call (510) 793-4583 or e-mail mponchard@tri-cityvolunteers.org.