Hunger doesn't take a vacation this holiday season, and neither do we. About 1.1 million people in the Bay Area are at risk of hunger every month. About 38 percent of this number are children. These are our neighbors, co-workers, and people we see on a regular basis who live below 150% of the poverty line. In the Bay Area, this includes a family of three earning $26,400 a year, or $31,800 for a family of four.
Food donations can be dropped off at your local food bank. Or you can make a monetary donation online. Cash donations of $350 and greater will be announced by Spencer Christian on ABC7's 6 pm newscast during our Thanksgiving Food Drive.
2011 Thanksgiving Food Drive Totals
Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County -- 456
Carol Owens -- 350
Carl Davis -- 200
Temple Beth Shalom -- 101
Congregation Beth Jacob -- 100
Wood Group Field Services -- 55
John Van Dyke -- 50
Congregation B'Nai Shalom -- 46
San Ramon Valley United Methodist Men's Group -- 40
Concord Country Consulting -- 35
Alza Corporation -- 470
Eric Nissen -- 354
LEMO USA -- 200
Netivot Shalom -- 139
Tom Legault, Kropa Realty -- 119
Paul & Vicki Michalczyk -- 100
Temple Beth Torah -- 87
Congregation Beth Emek -- 55
Finelite -- 52
Faith Network East Bay -- 35
Bishop Barry Drath -- 100
Robin Wolaner -- 100
Piedmont Boy Scouts of America -- 96
Roger Fong -- 80
Chancery & CTL Parish -- 52
Gordon Lefevre -- 50
Carl Hotel -- 50
James Wandrey -- 50
Christine Tam -- 50
Bruce Burns -- 50
B. R. Cohn Winery & Olive Company -- 4,500
Diana Doyle -- 200
Bill Uhlman & Rachel Westlake -- 60
Diablo Coin Club -- 50
Beth Chaim Congregation -- 35
Bodega Harbor Investment Club -- 240
Don & Lorene Guire -- 100
Deborah Crippen -- 100
Harland Financial Solutions -- 83
Eric & Yvonne Norrbom -- 50
Vickie Wahlstrom -- 50
Michael Fallon, Esq -- 250
Ray & Anjali Sussman -- 100
Lawrence Volvo, Inc. -- 60
1st United Services Credit Union -- 55
Delugach & DeLugach CPA's Inc -- 50
Dennis Paynter -- 50
Larry & Nicole McLea -- 750
Mizuho OSI -- 109
Hugh Groman Catering -- 100
Cub Scouts Pack 296 -- 81
Thermo Fisher Scientific -- 65
Rockridge Montessori School -- 61
Goldstein Munger & Associates -- 50
William & Roxanne Edelen -- 50
David Lorenzen -- 35
Eastside Bunch -- 206
Wind River -- 130
Tim & Lauri Thompson -- 100
Impax Laboratories, Inc. -- 69
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney -- 51
Joel Yanowitz -- 50
Paul Porcher -- 50
Jeff Berry -- 50
Pile Drivers Union, Local 34 -- 50
Dimond and Glenview Neighborhood Associations -- 237
Wiiken & Gorman -- 150
John H. Rodgers -- 100
Robert Wall -- 100
William & Sharon Whitten -- 100
David J. Zimmer -- 50
Judith Player -- 50
CEVA Logistics SFO -- 43
Muriel Smith -- 40
Paul Herman -- 500
Scott E. Knell -- 200
Congregation B'Nai Shalom of Walnut Creek -- 110
Marlene A. Hall -- 100
Thomas & Andrea Croft -- 100
Frank P. Greene 100
Jillian P. Ellis -- 70
Nancy Foushee -- 50
Zachary Mastroyannakis -- 35
Mike & Suzy Marzalek -- 5,000
Lytton Band of Pomo Indians and Casino San Pablo -- 500
John & Sandra Kozero -- 200
Steven Miller -- 150
W. T. Ryan -- 150
Lucy D. Runkel -- 100
Jeanette Perez -- 100
Corky Ferris -- 50
Christopher W. Sprague -- 40
Total: 20,237
To find your local food bank or for more information, call 800-870-FOOD or visit www.bayareahunger.org.
Here is a list of urgently needed food items: (Non-perishables only; please avoid fresh or frozen food and no glass jars.)
- Peanut Butter
- Chicken
- Tuna (and other foods high in protein)
- Soups
- Stew
- Chili
- Cereal
- Juice Containers
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Vegetables
According to Bay Area Food Banks:
- Over half a million people are at risk of going hungry each month.
- About 38% are children.
- Every month, one in five children in the Bay Area is at risk of hunger.
- The national poverty threshold for a family of four is an annual income of $20,650.
- Bay area numbers are startling. A Bay Area family with two working parents and two children must earn at least $70,000 just to make ends meet.
- This compares to a statewide average of $58,000.
According to California Food Policy Advocates:
- Nearly 400,000 children in the Bay Area are eligible for the Summer Food Service Program.
- These are kids who participate in subsidized school lunch programs during the academic year.
- Sadly, only 20 percent sign up for the free summer lunches because so few know about the program.
