It’s a tough time of year to be down on your luck. But with the
cost of living here continuing to outpace wages, more and more
people are finding themselves in a financial pinch.
It’s a tough time of year to be down on your luck. But with the cost of living here continuing to outpace wages, more and more people are finding themselves in a financial pinch.
San Benito County residents have a well-earned reputation for helping the less fortunate, not only during the holiday season but all year long. Let’s hope we can live up to that reputation this week, as the Second Harvest Food Bank wraps up its holiday food drive.
The goal of the food bank – which serves hungry people through a variety of local agencies, including the Community Pantry, YMCA and Salvation Army – is to collect 100,000 pounds of food in San Benito County during the holiday food drive. But at last count, only 38,470 pounds had been brought in.
If we’re going to hit that goal, the time to act is now. Clear out some space in your own pantry by boxing up a few cans of tuna, beans or other high-protein foods. Or next time you’re at the supermarket, top off your basket with some extra non-perishable foods for Second Harvest. Or better yet, save yourself the effort and simply write a check. Cash donations actually do more good because the food bank can use its bulk buying power to stretch those dollars; Second Harvest can turn a donation of $100 into $900 worth of food.
Food collected during this month’s drive does more than help provide needy people with something extra during the holidays. It stocks the Second Harvest pantries for the coming year.
More than half of the food distributed throughout the year comes in during the holiday food drive. What we’re giving today will not only help families get through the next few months, but will also help feed low-income children who otherwise might not get breakfast or lunch when school is out next summer.
The number of people in San Benito County seeking help from Second Harvest and the local agencies through which it works has increased by 38 percent in the past five years. According to Second Harvest spokeswoman Christine Woodard, that’s mostly a result of our area’s increased cost of living. Housing prices are up. Utility costs are up.
For even a lot of working families, there just aren’t enough dollars to go around. One in four local families needs help putting food on the table at some time during the year, Woodard said.
When the need is there, Second Harvest and its affiliated local agencies are there to help. Let’s do our part to make sure they can.
You can drop off food donations for Second Harvest at Community Pantry, 1133 San Felipe Road in Hollister, 8am to 5pm Monday through Saturday. Or you can mail a check to Second Harvest Food Bank, 800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Sharing your blessings is a great way to celebrate the holidays.
