Tri-City Volunteers Seek Donations, Volunteers for Holiday Season

Making Hunger History: Holiday food appeal for the elderly and vulnerable in the Tri-Cities

Once again, an annual appeal has been launched by Tri-City Volunteers food bank to collect food and financial donations to support vulnerable and elderly people living in the area.

The project has already helped to distribute 4,130 Thanksgiving packages, including 1,000 turkeys. Another 4,000 packages will also be needed for Christmas, organizers said.

Anyone interested in setting up a collection point at their work, school or church to receive non-perishable food items is encouraged to contact Tri-City Volunteers on 510-793-4583 or email Sara: sgovea@tri-cityvolunteers.org.

Executive Director Melissa Ponchard said: "Food hampers are appreciated by struggling parents who put food on the table, as well as by the increasing number of elderly people relying on our services and finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet at this time of year."

With government cuts to food stamps and the prospect of another grim economic Holiday forecast, young families as well as older and other vulnerable people are at risk emotionally as well as nutritionally. We have 16,000 people struggling with poverty in our area. One quarter of our food bank recipients are children, with seniors (a great many of whom live alone) making up another quarter.

Even here in California where temperatures are relatively mild, the cold weather exacerbates coronary and respiratory illnesses, especially among older people. For every winter-related death there are dozens of people suffering illness and hardship. Making a choice between eating and heating is commonplace. But it is a choice which may also lead to life of increased isolation and depression. Tri-City Volunteers food bank protects against such outcomes.

Your response to the Making Hunger History appeal through the overwhelming generosity of local supporters will hopefully mean that Tri-City Volunteers can make it through its 43rd year helping thousands of people access enough food.

All the money Tri-City Volunteers raises is used for the direct benefit of the older people and vulnerable families who suffer because of poverty. Your donations support those most in need of help, allowing us to make sure people stay warm, eat well and remain positive.

Every single dollar donated to Tri-City Volunteers reaches someone experiencing hunger. Last year, only 3% of our budget was spent on administrative and fundraising expenses. That means 97% of our budget was spent on direct program costs; spent on feeding those who need help most.