Second Harvest Food Bank held a kick-off luncheon for its
Holiday Food Drive last week, rolling out empty barrels to fill
with donations of non-perishable food items to be distributed in
San Benito and Santa Cruz counties during the holidays.
Second Harvest Food Bank held a kick-off luncheon for its Holiday Food Drive last week, rolling out empty barrels to fill with donations of non-perishable food items to be distributed in San Benito and Santa Cruz counties during the holidays.
During the holiday season, many people will spend more time with family and friends with plenty of food to eat. But that won’t be the case for many families in San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
“People are faced with choosing between being warm, paying the rent and buying food,” said Tom Larkin, executive director for the Community Pantry, a participating Second Harvest agency. “You’ve got to eat. This just makes it a little easier.”
Food barrels delivered to hundreds of participating businesses throughout San Benito and Santa Cruz counties will help make the holiday season a little brighter for many families. Canned tuna and meats, pasta, peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, powdered milk, soup and stews are the preferred food items.
“All non-perishable food we receive which is sealed in its packaging or in cans is usually appreciated,” said Lee Mercer, co-chair of the Central Coast Hunger Coalition.
Mercer said well-meaning people sometimes donate home-canned or bottled vegetables or partially used packages, which Second Harvest cannot use.
“We cannot distribute (these items) for fear of contamination,” he said. “All cans must be labeled, also.”
A study by the University of California at Los Angeles released last week reported there are thousands of “food-insecure” and hungry families on the Central Coast due to unemployment and high housing costs. The study said the demand for food donations in the San Francisco Bay Area increased by 19 percent in the last year, except in San Benito County, where the demand doubled.
Another study conducted by Second Harvest last year indicated that 78 percent of client households in San Benito and Santa Cruz counties have incomes below $11,500 and 44 percent had to choose between paying rent or eating.
Second Harvest helps feed 45,000 people each month, 90 percent of them children, seniors, the disabled and working families. Public donations can be made at local fire stations, libraries, Goodwill stores and Coast Commercial banks.
The food barrels will be out until Dec. 16, after which they will be picked up, weighed and packed for distribution.
For more information call (831) 662-0487 or (831) 722-7110.
