Holiday Food Drive Aims to Raise 2.5 Million Pounds

Santa Cruz County is getting hungrier.

Since 2008, the need for food in the county is up by 38.3 percent, according to Willy Elliot-McCrea, the CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville. That’s an increase from 40,000 to 55,000 people a month, half of who are children.

Elliot-McCrea and other community leaders spoke at a fundraising luncheon on Wednesday at Coconut Grove in Santa Cruz, kicking off a seven-week-long food drive throughout the county. They encouraged companies, schools and individuals to pool their resources to meet their goal of 2.5 million pounds of food this year, , for the 27th annual holiday drive.

“We hope to have North County, South County, Republicans, Democrats—everyone—come together to donate food,” said Mayor Ryan Coonery to a crowd of about 200 community members who paid $25 a pop to attend the event with their organizations.

Throughout the drive, 100 percent of the food donated is funneled into 200 organizations in Santa Cruz County such as the Watsonville Volunteer Center, River Street Shelter, and Pajaro Valley Children’s Center, said Danny Keith, Chief Development Officer for Second Harvest.

Speakers such as Kristine Ronzano, a member of the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, urged people to hold food drives both at their businesses and through personal celebrations such as birthdays -- asking for cans of food in lieu of gifts.

Local organizations and businesses are also donating a share of their profits. Starting on its free , the Museum of Art and History will be donating $10 for every membership to Second Harvest. The new YogurtLand in Capitola, as well as Whole Foods in Capitola and Santa Cruz, will also be collecting cans, and donating a share of their profits to Second Harvest.

Second Harvest distributes $8 worth of food for every dollar donated because of a low overhead of five percent, said Keith, and the ability to buy large quantities of Grade B produce.

Second Harvest tries to provide balanced meals to families, according to Keith. It doesn’t accept soda or foods rich in high-fructose corn syrup.

“If we can focus on their food needs, then they can focus on their other needs, such as taking care of their families,” said Keith after the event.

In October, for the annual campaign that will be deployed to area schools and businesses. Watch for the black and green receptacles and make a contribution.