SANTA CRUZ—Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County on Sunday at its annual awards dinner honored citizens that helped make last year’s Holiday Food & Fund Drive its most successful yet.
The dinner, held at Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, served as a stage to award several businesses, schools and individuals, who helped raise 4,819,098 meals, exceeding the goal of 4.8 million set by the drive’s two co-chairs, Megan Martinelli and John Laird.
The event officially marked the end of Laird’s two-year term as co-chair. Laird passed the baton to Carlos Palacios, County Administrative Officer, who will be chairing the event with Martinelli for the upcoming Holiday Food & Fund Drive, which begins in November.
Jerry Souza, a representative from the 2019 Holiday Food & Fund Drive presenting sponsor, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, accepted the President’s Cup Award. Souza talked about the importance of community involvement in fighting hunger and food insecurity in Santa Cruz County.
The 2019 Hunger Fighters of the Year were also honored.
John Steele, food drive coordinator for 12 years running at UC Santa Cruz, was recognized for being a leader in fundraising and food insecurity awareness at the college.
Santiago Tehandón was also honored. A Second Harvest volunteer for more than 12 years he has served as a nutrition ambassador and is currently volunteering at three nutrition education sites, Tehandón also helped organize and distribute fresh produce, interact with the community and promote healthy food.
“Both Steele and Tehandón have worked hand-in-hand with the food bank by fighting hunger in Santa Cruz County,” the Second Harvest Food Bank said through a press release. “Second Harvest was pleased to present these two outstanding individuals.”
