As another winter approaches, many families in our community still go hungry each day. The UC Santa Cruz Academic Senate and Staff Advisory Board ask you to join us again this year in donating cash and non-perishable food to the Second Harvest Food Bank’s annual holiday food drive to provide food to families who need it.
Last year, UCSC staff, faculty and students provided over 50,000 pounds of food and cash equivalent. This year, as SHFB moves its measure from pounds of food to meals, our goal is to provide 60,000 meals to people in need right here in Santa Cruz County.
Here’s how you can support the food drive:
• Donate online. Every dollar you donate feeds four people, using the Food Bank’s purchasing power to deliver healthful, balanced meals.
• Donate using the UCSC Second Harvest Food Drive donation envelope. Find these in your campus mailbox soon and attached to donations barrels around campus. Donate by check made payable to Second Harvest Food Bank with “UCSC” written in the memo portion of the check, and place your envelope in campus mail (red collection bag). We will also accept cash. Your campus mail donations are secure.
• Donate food items. Please use your own collection bag and fill it with canned meat, canned fish, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, beans, pasta, rice, cereal and fruit juice. Food donations may be made by placing foods in the collection barrels located throughout the campus.
• Participate in our raffle. We have a plethora of fantastic prizes including lunch with the Chancellor, UCSC apparel, gift cards and more. To learn more about the raffle click here. To find out where to buy tickets or help sell them call or email John Steele at 459-4065; moriarti@ucsc.edu
All food donations are helpful, but the Second Harvest Food Bank can stretch cash donations even further. For every dollar donated, $8 worth of food is made available to families in need. Just a single quarter can provide a fresh meal.
The Second Harvest Food Bank is a non-profit organization providing food and basic necessities to our neighbors, half of whom are children. Visit http://www.thefoodbank.org to learn how your contributions make a difference in our community.
Please consider joining us in the effort to reduce hunger in our community this year by supporting UCSC’s annual Holiday Food Drive in partnership with the Second Harvest Food Bank. The need for community donations is greater than ever. We appreciate your support!
