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# Grocery bags delivered across Redlands ahead of annual food drive
- URL: https://www.communityforwardredlands.com/redlands-fall-food-drive-seeks-do/
- Published: 2026-11-12T00:31:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-12T00:39:16.000Z
- Description: Family Service Association hopes to collect thousands of pounds of food Saturday, Nov. 14, to help stock its pantry for the coming year.
- Author: Stephanie Hastings Miranda
- Tags: Community Spotlight

REDLANDS, Calif. — Thousands of brown paper grocery bags have been distributed to homes across Redlands and surrounding communities this week ahead of the Family Service Association's annual Fall Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Residents who received a bag are asked to fill it with nonperishable food donations and leave it on their doorstep or at the bottom of their driveway by 9 a.m. Saturday for collection. 

About 200 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are helping distribute and collect the bags. Donations will be transported to Family Service Association's campus at 612 Lawton St. in Redlands, where additional volunteers will sort the food.

"This drive is essential to Family Service's pantry, helping us stock our shelves and keep food available throughout the year for local individuals and families," said Loida Arriaga, assistant director of Family Service Association.

Last year's food drive collected 32,900 pounds of food despite heavy rain that complicated collection efforts. More than 19,000 pounds were sorted on the day of the event by hundreds of volunteers, with additional donations arriving throughout the following week.

"Last year's food drive proved that even pouring rain couldn't dampen our community's spirit!" Arriaga said. "So many volunteers showed up with smiles, energy, and a willingness to get soaked for a good cause."

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f5/51/f5517707-3f50-4c01-a20b-337e3a8ce042/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1296.jpeg)

**Volunteers brave rainy conditions to collect and sort 19,000 pounds of food during the 2025 Fall Food Drive in Redlands. (Photo credit: Karen Bell)*

### Volunteers needed Saturday

Family Service Association is also seeking volunteers to help sort donations Saturday. Volunteers can [register for two-hour shifts](https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=%5FQT8JKZxAEuRvpE7yACm%5F3QP%5Fw-GcUBEmQsahFozw6BUMVRaUTM2Q0VWN05BMlEzN09TQzBUMUtKTyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl&ref=communityforwardredlands.com) between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. or volunteer for the full day.

Local businesses, including Handel's Ice Cream, Café Rio, Farmer Boys, Trader Joe's, Red Robin and Home Depot, have donated items and gift cards for a free raffle for volunteers who bring food donations. Redlands Krispy Kreme is also donating 35 dozen doughnuts for volunteers.

Stater Bros. Markets donated the grocery bags, while Paulsen Orthodontics helped fund the informational flyers attached to them.

Residents can find a list of requested food items and additional information at [redlandsfamilyservice.org/fall-food-drive.html](https://www.redlandsfamilyservice.org/fall-food-drive.html?ref=communityforwardredlands.com).

Family Service Association provides food, housing assistance, clothing and other support services to local families facing financial hardship. In 2025, the nonprofit served more than 10,000 individuals across 3,072 families, distributed more than 268,000 pounds of donated food and served more than 28,600 meals, according to its annual service report.