Holidays would not be the same without people gathering around tables laden with food, but for some San Benito County residents getting enough carbohydrates, proteins and fiber to fill out the menu is no easy task.
That’s where the generosity of the Community Food Bank of San Benito County and local residents steps in. Community members have been stocking the warehouse’s shelves through donations of money and canned food.
“There’s never enough. We’re up to feeding about 5,000 people a month,” said Mark Paxton, the food bank’s director of community engagement. “That’s a pretty big shopping cart.”
This will likely be the last holiday season the nonprofit food bank spends in its current location off San Felipe Road before changes take shape at the site for a new, renovated headquarters.
“We’re in the process of purchasing the building that we’re in and then we’re going to renovate it,” said Maria Lynn Thomas, the chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization. “It’s a little more doable, a little lower budget requirements than to build the building from scratch and have to put the sewer and everything underground.”
The food bank’s plans to build a center came to a halt in October, when staff officials announced the organization would pursue a renovation instead. This was after rising costs escalated the projected budget from $2.2 million to $3.5 million, according to the nonprofit organization.
Food for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday has been dispersed, Thomas explained. But future donations will be held for Christmas, she said. This year, the food bank gave out chickens instead of turkeys for Thanksgiving.
“We had a whole array of meats,” she said.
Paxton highlighted a critical need for foods that are high in protein.
Want to give locally? Here’s how:
NOB HILL: The store off Airline Highway allows shoppers to donate $10 while they’re standing in the grocery line. The money purchases a bag of groceries valued at $27 plus a gallon of milk, Paxton said. The supermarket arranges for the supplies to go straight to the food bank.
SAFEWAY: The supermarket chain with a Hollister store off Tres Pinos Road is letting shoppers donate $10 for a bag of groceries that includes peanut butter, tuna, spaghetti, and canned food items. The store coordinates getting those items to the local food bank.
12 DAYS OF GIVING: The Community Foundation of San Benito County selected the food bank as one of six nonprofit organizations to receive matching funds. From Nov. 14-Nov. 28, money donated through the foundation’s website will be matched by business and community sponsors. To learn more, go to: http://bit.ly/21beNHz.
SCHOOLS, BUSSINESSES AND MORE: The food bank has delivered barrels to schools and businesses in the county so community members can drop off nonperishable fare, such as canned foods and peanut butter. There are about 120 barrels in the county and more are on the way, said Paxton in a conversation with the Free Lance last week.
These locations are accepting donations:
1) Hollister Free Lance
2) Go Kids
3) Flying Colors Dance and Fitness
4) Child Support Services
5) Mini Max Storage
6) Presbyterian Church
7) San Benito High School
8) Rancho San Justo School
9) Cerra Vista School
10) Marguerite Maze Middle School
11) Progresso’s
12) Tiffany Motor Co.
13) Grace Bible Church
14) Postal Graphics
15) County Water District
16) Immaculate Conception
17) Karen Coslett, DDS
18) Spring Grove School
19) Calaveras School
20) Milgard
21) Off the Chain bikes
22) Nob Hill
23) Lucky
24) Safeway
25) Hollister Super 1
26) Hollister Super 2
27) Sacred Heart School
28) Teknova
29) Calvista Insurance
30) Gallager Insurance
31) Quik Stop
32) Heritage Bank
33) Wells Fargo Bank
34) Bank of America
35) Union Bank
36) Hillside Christian Church
37) Aromas School
38) MC Electronics
39) Gold’s Gym
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
