Food-bank need rises dramatically

<www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2002/November/03/local/stories/08local.htm>

November 3, 2002
By JEANENE HARLICK
Sentinel staff writer

With need greater than ever, Second Harvest Food Bank is urging
residents to donate food this year as it enters its annual holiday food
drive.
The food bank, which serves 45,000 people a month throughout the
county, has seen need increase sharply since the events of Sept. 11.
Rising unemployment coupled with increased cost of living has
translated into more people than ever having to choose between
paying for food or rent, said Willy Elliott-McCrea, executive director.
“We’re serving 19 percent more people than we did before 9-11,” he
said.
A hunger study conducted by the food bank last year found that half
the bank’s clients are children and that many parents are skipping
meals so their children can eat. More than 40 percent of Second
Harvest’s clients are working people, the study also found.
While last year saw the bank’s greatest food distribution ever an
impressive 4.7 million pounds Second Harvest is setting its sights
higher this time around. It is striving to raise 5 million pounds by June
30, the end of its fiscal year.
The holiday food drive began Saturday with letter carriers picking up
food on their routes. Close to 600 collection barrels will be rolled out
at businesses, post offices, fire stations and more next Friday.
The official kick-off luncheon takes place at the Cocoanut Grove in
Santa Cruz on Thursday. Residents interested in getting involved can
still RSVP by calling 722-7110 and asking for Craig George at
extension 214.
Second Harvest hopes to collect 920,000 pounds of food during the
holiday drive, which makes up nearly 20 percent of its annual
collection. Harvey Nickelson, chief executive officer of Coast
Commercial Bank, and Susan Mauriello, Santa Cruz County
administrative officer, will co-chair the holiday drive this year.
The drive culminates with the Fill the Bus event on Dec. 13, when
buses will pick up food from businesses competing to best each other
in amount donated.
Kid-friendly foods such as tuna and peanut butter are in high
demand, as our canned fruits and vegetables, soups, stews and
cereal, Elliott-McCrea said.
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Contact Jeanene Harlick at jharlick (at) santa-cruz.com