About 400,000 San Diego County residents regularly do not have enough food to eat. This week, UCSD students, faculty and staff will get a chance to help them.
One of the university's honor societies is organizing a food drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Food barrels will be available to drop off donations on Library Walk and probably outside of the Sunshine Store and Earl's Place, said food drive organizer Diana Combs.
THANKSGIVING
FOOD DRIVE
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday
Where: Library Walk and probably the Sunshine Store and Earl's Place
More Information: Organizers are looking for non-perishable foods. The drive benefits the San Diego Food Bank.
"This food drive is a great opportunity for UCSD to reach out to the community in a pretty simple way but in a very meaningful way," said Combs, a senior studying political science and literature.
Combs is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, which will soon include about 500 juniors and seniors at UCSD who rank in the top 15 percent of their class based on their grade point average. Not all members are active, said Combs, who is director of service and outreach. The organization focuses on academics, social events and community service, she said. For example, it provides discounts for test preparation classes and study breaks. Students also took part in a recent breast cancer walk.
The society's officers were trying to come up with events for the holiday season and settled on a food drive.
Organizers are especially looking for non-perishable Thanksgiving foods, such as cranberry sauce, canned yams, gravy, and stuffing mix. But pasta, rice and even baby formula are also welcomed. All donations will go to the San Diego Food Bank. About 20 percent of the bank's food comes from drives, said Frank Fiel, food resources manager. "Food drives are a vital part of the San Diego Food Bank's food resourcing program," he said.
About 400,000 San Diego County residents need help finding food, Fiel said.
The nonprofit San Diego Food Bank acts as a clearing house for food donations from businesses and individuals. The bank stores the food and distributes it to more than 200 other nonprofit agencies, including soup kitchens, shelters and group homes. Last year, it distributed more than 13 million pounds of food. The bank guarantees the food will be safely and properly stored and handled and distributed to genuinely needy people through nonprofit programs. It also guarantees that programs that receive the food are monitored to make sure that donations don't get sold, according to a statement.
Combs is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, which will soon include about 500 juniors and seniors at UCSD who rank in the top 15 percent of their class based on their grade point average. Not all members are active, said Combs, who is director of service and outreach. The organization focuses on academics, social events and community service, she said. For example, it provides discounts for test preparation classes and study breaks. Students also took part in a recent breast cancer walk.
Organizers are especially looking for non-perishable Thanksgiving foods, such as cranberry sauce, canned yams, gravy, and stuffing mix. But pasta, rice and even baby formula are also welcomed. All donations will go to the San Diego Food Bank. About 20 percent of the bank's food comes from drives, said Frank Fiel, food resources manager. "Food drives are a vital part of the San Diego Food Bank's food resourcing program," he said.
The nonprofit San Diego Food Bank acts as a clearing house for food donations from businesses and individuals. The bank stores the food and distributes it to more than 200 other nonprofit agencies, including soup kitchens, shelters and group homes. Last year, it distributed more than 13 million pounds of food. The bank guarantees the food will be safely and properly stored and handled and distributed to genuinely needy people through nonprofit programs. It also guarantees that programs that receive the food are monitored to make sure that donations don't get sold, according to a statement.
