Fall Food Drive supports local families year-round
Contribute to the fight against food insecurity by donating canned goods and other non-perishables to the Redlands Family Service Association's annual fall food drive, Nov. 11
Volunteers help sort, label, and package food at the annual Family Service Association food drive in 2022. (Photo: Courtesy of Family Service Association)
REDLANDS, Calif. — The Family Service Association (FSA) of Redlands is partnering with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to host its annual Fall Food Drive to stock its food pantry for the upcoming year.
Why it matters: All food collected during the event will be redistributed throughout the year to families and community members in need. In 2022, FSA served more than 15,000 meals and provided surplus food distribution to nearly 3,000 families, according to the non-profit's annual report.
Details: The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Family Service Association campus on Lawton Street.
Volunteers will help take in thousands of pounds of food to be stored and distributed to low-income residents. A large number of helpers are needed to weigh, label, organize, and stock the food within the pantry.
This year, there will also be an added incentive for volunteers. Any volunteer who brings a donation of three to five cans will be entered in a raffle to win gift cards from local Redlands staples such as Theron’s Marketplace, Cookie Co., Mozart's Boutique, and more.
Zoom out: In 2021, about 1 in 10 Californians experience food insecurity, according to the most recent data from Feeding America Map the Meal Study. San Bernardino County experiences a similar rate.
However, food insecurity is more prevalent amoung children 18 and younger. About 13.5% of children statewide lack regular access to enough food for an active, healthy life. In San Bernardino County, the rate is higher - with about 15% of children experiencing food insecurity.
Moving Forward: Volunteers are encouraged to sign up online using the link below. Multiple shifts are still available, so be sure to secure your spot prior to the food drive. Casual attire and closed-toed shoes are recommended for volunteers.
