Despite the overwhelming generosity of the community, the Second Harvest Food Bank has fallen $300,000 short of its “Holiday Food and Fund Drive” target.
Second Harvest Spokeswoman Caitlin Kerk said that the Holiday Food and Fund Drive was only able to raise $12.1 million, which is short of the organization’s goal of $12.4 million. As a result, Kerk added, some people who rely on the food bank may go hungry.
The $300,000 shortfall is the equivalent of 600,000 meals that won’t be available to people who need them at local pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and after-school programs, said Kerk.
St. Joseph’s Family Center in Gilroy, for example, is one of hundreds of nonprofit organizations served directly by Second Harvest.
Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, illustrated how important a role the Food Bank plays in the local community.
“Every year the number of people Second Harvest serves continues to grow,” she said.
At the same time, Jackson explained, a poor growing season and skyrocketing costs for local produce has placed nutritious table options out of the grasp of many.
“Nobody should ever go hungry in a wealthy community like ours,” she added.
Second Harvest Food Bank partners with more than 300 nonprofit agencies to provide food at more than 740 sites throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
If you want to help with Second Harvest’s effort to bridge the 600,000 “meal gap,” you call (866) 234-3663 or visit www.SHFB.org
Anyone who is struggling to put food on the table should call Second Harvest’s Food Connection hotline at (800) 984-3663 to learn about food-assistance programs, including CalFresh (food stamps).
