Harvest for Hunger Food Drive - Sep 25th!

Posted by Linda Catran 
 
 
Join Calabasas Rotarians at Ralph's Market in Calabasas on Saturday, September 25th, from 10:00am-3:00pm as we embark on our biggest Food Drive of the year at the beginning of the Fall Harvest season. We are asking for donations of non-perishable foods or cash for the West Valley Food Pantry. Please stop by with a can or a case - every little bit helps - and encourage your friends and neighbors to come by, as well. As a result of our efforts, Rotary of Calabasas has delivered over 5,000 individual food items, and nearly $1,000 in cash to the West Valley Food Pantry, and on September 25th, our final Food Drive of 2010, we hope to have our biggest Food Drive ever!
 
The Rotary of Calabasas as a Club and its members as individuals have been active supporters of the West Valley Food Pantry for several years. With the economic crisis having dramatically increased the number of those in need of emergency food, Calabasas Rotarians became more determined than ever to meet the challenge. So beginning in January 2009, the Rotary Club of Calabasas began organizing quarterly Community Food Drives to help the Food Pantry meet the growing need for emergency food in the West Valley.

The West Valley Food Pantry is a coalition of eleven congregations located in the West San Fernando Valley providing emergency food to the needy and homeless in the area. It was founded in 1985 to make sure that the hungry, working poor and the homeless in the West Valley have access to emergency food.

It operates 5 days a week (Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 3:00) and 10 to Noon on Friday. It is located in the kitchen of the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church at 5700 Rudnick Avenue in Woodland Hills (91367)It also assists the Family Rescue Center (Rescate) in Canoga Park at 22103 Vanowen Street.

The West Valley Food Pantry provides over 220,000 meals to over 24,000 people, annually. In July 2010, meals were provided to 1,288 families; or more than 3,700 men, women and children, and every effort is made to assure that these meals provide a balanced and nutritious diet.

Emergency food is available to anyone once a week under government requirements. According to Pantry statistics, 38% of its clients are the working poor or seniors on very limited income, 33% qualify for food stamps or are on Welfare, 19% have recent unemployment, and 10% are homeless or other.

All regular clients must register and show evidence of residence between Reseda Boulevard on the east and Rinaldi Street at the north,west to the Ventura County line and south to Fernwood in Topanga Canyon.

Clients receive a monthly food package and each package exceed 10 pounds; consisting of canned goods and non-perishables, balanced by fresh foods and are delivered at a cost of about 34cents a pound.

Registered clients receive a complete food package once a month. It also operates a "SENIORS" federally funded program from 9 to 11 am on the first Wednesday of the month. In August 4, 2010, 195 Seniors received large bags of food.

More information about the West Valley Food Pantry may be found on its website at:popwh.org/newpop/min_food_pantry.html, or by phone (818) 346-5554 or FAX: (818)346-3349.