North valley students work to feed people in Planada

PLANADA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A group of UC Merced students are trying to help feed dozens of needy families after a Planada nonprofit is left without food donations.

Erin Meyer is the manager of CropMobster for Merced County and she's using their website to reach their goal.

The Merced CropMobster division is a marketplace for food and agriculture. The goal is to improve farmer's sales and help with food insecurity.

In this case, Meyer posted the need for donations to help out St. Vincent De Paul in Planada. The nonprofit usually gives out food once a month to almost 70 families, many of them farm workers and children.

Recently, their food provider told them they wouldn't be able to give them food donations for the next two months.

After reaching out to Meyer the post went up almost immediately, and boxes were placed around the UC Merced campus. So far, they've collected about 100 items of food.

"I love to see the community rallying, even when other people don't have a lot, they feel that need. It resonates with them deeply, and they want to give back even if they don't have a lot," Meyers said.

Anyone wanting to help can reach out through CropMobster, or drop off their canned goods in the donation bins.

The goal is to collect 500 food items by Wednesday, then the food will be delivered to the organization in time to give out to families this weekend.