Second Harvest Food Bank Kicks Off Holiday Food Drive In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – Second Harvest Food Bank just entered its most intense two months of the year, and is encouraging the community to organize local food and fund drives to help collect more than half of the food Second Harvest needs year-round.

The Holiday Food & Fund Drive was launched at the Annual Kickoff Luncheon Thursday at Twin Lakes Church in Aptos.

The drive is Second Harvest’s biggest campaign of the year, and 100 percent of the food and funds raised will support its network of 200 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, food distributions and programs throughout the county.

Second Harvest CEO Willy Elliott-McCrea shared the three “levers for maximum impact” he said will allow the Food Bank and the school, business, non-profit, government, and community members in attendance to meet their goal of raising 4.5 million meals during the drive.

• The first is the Food Bank’s ability to acquire $9 worth of food for every dollar raised. “Last year [Director of Agency Network Services Grace Galvan] acquired 5 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for an average of 10-12 cents a pound,” Elliott-McCrea explained.
• The second is its network of 200 programs and partner agencies who are on the ground, across the county. “They know the need, they know the people, and they get the food you raise to the children and adults who need it most,” Elliott-McCrea told the crowd of about 275.
• Finally, Elliott-McCrea rallied the room and informed them that together, they are the third “lever for maximum impact—there is strength in community.”

“You know that providing healthy food to kids, working poor families, the disabled, seniors, and others builds a healthy and sustainable community, a vibrant and strong economy, and dignity and hope in all of us.”

Speakers included Dr. Nanette Mickiewicz, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital president, and Jess Brown, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, among others.

Mickiewicz told the audience that “Food security and health go hand in hand, and anything we can do to combat hunger will enhance the overall well-being of our community.”

Elliott-McCrea said: “The holidays are a perfect time for those of us more fortunate to come together and work with our friends and neighbors to help those in the community most in need.”

One way to contributes is when shopping at Safeway stores in Santa Cruz County. Pre-loaded bags of non-perishable food items will be available through Dec. 27 for $10 at Safeway stores. To purchase shoppers remove tear sheet from the tear pads and take it up to the check stand. All food is delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.

For volunteer opportunities at the food bank, follow this link.

For donation information,click here.

For the third year in a row, Dignity Health--Dominican Hospital and Dignity Health Medical Group-- Dominican are Presenting Sponsors of the Holiday Food & Fund Drive.

--Images and info courtesy of Second Harvest