WATSONVILLE — Second Harvest Food Bank is still in its most intense time of the year, where it is asking the community to organize the dozens of local food and fund drives throughout the county, in an annual program known as the Holiday Food and Fund Drive.
County businesses, civic and community leaders and activists gathered for a luncheon on Nov. 8 at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos to launch the annual campaign.
“Out of the Holiday Food Drive we have the incredible partnership with the ag community that allows us to distribute 500 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables a year,” said Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO of Second Harvest. “In a community like ours we’ve got 250,000 people. We provide food to about 18,000 families a month that includes roughly 25,000 kids. This comes down to over 20 pounds of produce per household per month.”
The drive is Second Harvest’s biggest event of the year, and 100 percent of the food and funds it raises supports food donations to its network of 200 pantries, soup kitchens, recovery centers, assisted living homes, and food and nutrition programs throughout the county.
The goal for the 2018 drive is 4.8 million meals, up from 4.75 million meals the previous year.
Senior Communications Manager Caroline Slivkoff said the drive continues through Jan. 15.
“We’re still welcoming monetary and food item donations from around Santa Cruz County,” Slivkoff said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Slivkoff added that all donations go directly to the people and each dollar can provide four healthy meals.
Elliott-McCrea said that Second Harvest’s food that goes to families translates to about $50-$60 a month out of each household budget.
“We’re focused on the fact that people are cutting corners,” he said. “And when when you’re stretched the fresh fruits and vegetable take a hit — which is where you get your fiber — and then you open the door for diabetes and other chronic diseases. More than half the population can’t afford healthy food any more because they’ve got nothing left after they pay the rent.”
For information, visit www.thefoodbank.org.
