Henry’s Farmers Markets is conducting their fourth annual summer food drive from now until Aug. 27 to benefit the San Diego Food Bank, which serves more than 200,000 people in San Diego County each month.
Residents are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at participating Henry’s Farmers Markets, including the Point Loma location at 3315 Rosecrans St.
Residents who donate 10 or more items will receive a free pair of tickets to the Wave Waterpark in Vista.
“The food drive is a partnership with Star 94.1 and the Wave Waterpark,” said Dennis Clyde, store director of the Point Loma Henry’s Farmers Market. “This is a win-win for everyone.”
Clyde explained that the effort benefits all parties involved: Henry’s supports a valued local organization, the food bank collects food during the slow summer months and donors are rewarded with a cool day of summer fun at the waterpark.
“During the summer months there is an especially larger need [for donations] due to the fact that there are not school lunches available to many of the children who would normally be eligible for free school lunches,” said Gary McDonald, food bank president and CEO.
The summer is the slowest time of the year in terms of receiving donations, he explained.
“People just don’t think about hungry people during the summer as much as they do during the November and December time frame,” McDonald said. ” Our donations go way down beginning in January.”
Food items needed all year long include canned tuna, chicken and stew, canned fruits, vegetables and juices, chili, soup, cereal, evaporated and powdered milk, pasta and nutritious snack items for children. Non-food items such as toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, cleaning supplies, paper products, diapers and detergent are also in high demand.
“When we heard that 48 percent of the people served by the food bank are under the age of 18, and that 16 percent are children 5 years old and younger, we knew we had to do something to help,” said Al Bercuson, director of operations for Henry’s Farmers Markets, in a press release. “Hosting a summer food drive seemed to make perfect sense and we are happy it helps the food bank during such an important time of the year.”
The San Diego Food Bank did not set a specific goal for this effort in hopes that the community will step up to the challenge.
“We just hope that people will be generous, because the need is great,” McDonald said. “This is an important time of year for people that are in need. The holiday food lasts us until the spring, then we are hurting again in terms of the food that we have on hand.”
Clyde said Henry’s Farmers Markets understands the importance of the task at hand and said a strong initial response has been “fantastic.”
“We have been thrilled that the San Diego community has stepped up to the plate to help out their neighbors in need,” he added.