There isn’t much you can buy with a buck these days. But
Community Pantry knows how to get the most out of each one. In
fact, they have gotten so good at it they can purchase $9 worth of
food for $1. That is why in addition to food donations, they are
encouraging cash gifts this holiday season.
Hollister – There isn’t much you can buy with a buck these days. But Community Pantry knows how to get the most out of each one. In fact, they have gotten so good at it they can purchase $9 worth of food for $1. That is why in addition to food donations, they are encouraging cash gifts this holiday season.
Starting today, the Hollister nonprofit will be setting up a table outside Albertson’s to collect both money and food, warming hearts and filling bellies this holiday season.
For those who don’t have extra food at home but want to lend a hand, Albertson’s sells ready-to-donate bags for $9.99 that include cereal, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti and sauce, vegetables and apple juice.
“This helps our families not go to bed hungry,” said Lula Cordova, assistant executive director of Community Pantry, a member of Second Harvest Food Bank.
Both Community Pantry and Second Harvest are collecting non-perishable food items this holiday season, which can be dropped off at numerous locations around Hollister.
Since 1989, the organization has provided food to thousands of families, often making the difference between whether someone eats that day or not. It serves 820 families or about 2,400 people a year, many of whom are migrant workers and seniors.
One out of five children in San Benito County are at risk for hunger, said Cordova. The situation is so dire for some families that they must share a single-family house with numerous families to make ends meet.
Because of escalating rent prices, many families are forced to make cuts in their food expenses and are more likely to eat cheaper processed foods or forgo regular meals, said Tom Larkin, Community Pantry’s executive director.
“Most of our clients are working families and what they make is just not enough for them,’ he said. “It’s very tough to live in this area.”
Today, the organization will be distributing turkeys and other Thanksgiving food items at Veteran’s Memorial Park, its largest direct distribution that will impact some 500 people. Recipients must be members of Community Pantry
Many non-profits rely on the Pantry to get food for their programs and say it is an instrumental part of their being able to help the community.
For almost a decade, Hollister Youth Alliance has organized after school programs for some of the poorest kids in Hollister. Through the organization, they have received homework assistance, done arts and crafts projects and listened to guest speakers, all while being fed healthy snacks, courtesy of Community Pantry.
Diane Ortiz Peterson, a volunteer with the group, said the food donations help the cash-strapped nonprofit provide for the kids, without making them or their parents feel uncomfortable about the charity.
“Community Pantry is a vital part of the community,” she said.
The pantry distributes about 10,000 pounds of food throughout the week, nourishing items like canned fruits, vegetables and meats, meant to supplement a family’s food supply.
In order to qualify for food distribution, a family of three must make under $35,000 and pay a $30 fee for membership.
Karina Ioffee writes about education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
