Community Volunteer Awards

January’s epic storms took a heavy toll on the lifeline that is the Rancho Cordova Food Locker. The aging portable building sprung leaks and the water poured in. In the aftermath, it was discovered that the building had suffered substantial damage and water-logged walls and floors needed work. Furniture and equipment had to go.

As the clouds cleared, two Rancho Cordova businesses came through with unexpected generosity to get the Food Locker back on the front lines of fighting hunger. One of those businesses was Western Contract.

Bill Yee has been CEO of Western Contract, an office furniture and workspace design firm, for more than 30 years. Bill was named the Most Admired CEO in 2022, and for good reason. He has a long reach in the community, including serving on the board of directors for Capital Public Radio. When he heard about the Food Locker’s plight, he knew he had to do something and partnered with Director of Sales and Marketing Teri Chrisanty to act.

Timing is everything, and it just happened that Western Contract — a longtime icon on Folsom Boulevard — was preparing to move to a new showroom and had a lot of furniture that needed to find a new home. The call for help from the Food Locker provided an excellent solution.

Working with Food Locker Executive Director Carrie Johnson, Western Contract packed up and delivered more than $60,000 worth of new office furniture to get the Food Locker back into operation. The donation included tables, chairs, desks, work and reception stations — everything needed to get the Food Locker back to service, plus furniture that will be needed when the Food Locker makes an eventual move to a new location.

This exceptional gift to the Food Locker will free up dollars to meet its core mission of feeding hungry people, while at the same time providing an upgraded workplace for employees and stellar volunteers — honoring the importance of their work.

Bill and Teri are outstanding examples of how business leadership can not only lead to commercial success but can also address important local needs. While it may be enough for a business to provide good jobs that support workers’ families and a great product for their customers, Western Contract demonstrated that when you work from the heart you can do so much more.

The Rancho Cordova Food Locker is back in business feeding the hungry of our community, thanks to the quick response and generosity of two businesses doing what they could to restore one of Rancho Cordova’s most important life links.

Congratulations and thank you to Western Contract, our 2023 Distinguished Community Business Partner.