Support needed to ensure anyone who needs a meal gets one
Published in the December 11-25 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Kathy Jackson
Kathy Jackson
Most Santa Clara County residents might not realize that one in 10 of their neighbors will receive food from Second Harvest Food Bank this holiday season – and all year long. While the economy may be improving, Second Harvest continues to see unprecedented need. The number of children, seniors, and families we provide with food each month has grown to more than 250,000 people.
The recession pushed many of our neighbors into poverty and we haven’t seen the kind of rebound in the job market that is needed to get people back on their feet. So it continues to be very hard times for the people we serve.
Compounding the problem is the high cost of living in Silicon Valley – including Morgan Hill – which makes it difficult for families with low incomes to meet their basic needs. Many of the people we serve work hard, but they still don’t earn enough to pay the bills. They often must make difficult choices such as whether to pay rent, buy nutritious food, or purchase needed medicines.
No child, senior citizen, or family should ever go hungry, especially here in this wealthy area. But Second Harvest Food Bank needs the community’s support to ensure that anyone who needs a meal can get one — during the holidays, and all year long.
The goal of our Holiday Food and Fund Drive is $13.2 million and 2 million pounds of food. This is a critical campaign for Second Harvest because we raise nearly half our revenues during the holiday season.
Second Harvest Food Bank partners with more than 330 nonprofit agencies to provide food at more than 770 sites throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and after-school programs. In Morgan Hill, Second Harvest partners with Advent Lutheran Church, Community Solutions, Jasmine Square, People That Care, and St. Catherine’s Reach Out. These agencies are helping us ensure that everyone in Morgan Hill has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.
Second Harvest is one of only a few food banks in the nation that does not charge our partners for the food we provide. Last year, the food bank distributed nearly 52 million pounds of food to the community. More than 50 percent of the food Second Harvest provides is fresh produce.
Individuals, corporations and organizations can help to ensure that anyone who needs a meal can get one by donating to Second Harvest Food Bank. To support the campaign, visit www.shfb.org or call 866-234-3663. Anyone who needs food should call Second Harvest’s Food Connection hotline at 800-984-3663.
Kathy Jackson is the chief executive officer of Second Harvest Food Bank which serves the people of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
