Put the 'Giving' in Thanksgiving — Local Food Charities Need Your Help

Contra Costa organizations that help feed the hungry are facing big challenges in these days of high unemployment. Here are some local agencies that could use your help.

400 Turkeys by Friday

The Salvation Army-Concord Community Church is hoping for donations of 400 frozen turkeys by this Friday, Nov. 18, to give out to local families in need for Thanksgiving dinner.

To make it easy, a food pantry worker said, they have set up a donation "drive-thru." Just pull into the church parking lot at 3950 Clayton Rd., Concord, now through Friday, Nov. 18, between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., and someone will collect your donated frozen turkey.

After Friday, or if no one is one hand in the parking lot, follow the signs to the food pantry on site to drop off your donation.

Also needed for Thanksgiving: canned cranberry sauce, canned milk, seasonings for pumpkin pies.

Food donations are welcome year-round.

Holiday Food Boxes

The Monument Crisis Center, which provides food distribution and other services to at-risk Contra Costa families and individuals, is "unable to do the Adopt-A-Family program due to the immense strain that the economic crisis has caused the center" this year, according to its website. But the center is accepting food donations — cereal, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned meals and canned fruit, vegetables and tomatoes are among the most needed items.

The center also has suggestions for your donation of a holiday food box for families or a Thanksgiving food box for seniors.

You may drop off donated food Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m. (Tuesdays until 6:30 p.m.) at the center, 2350 Monument Blvd. Ste. B, 
Concord (between Costco and El Faro Restaurant, same parking lot as Public Storage).

Many Options for Local Food Bank

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano , which provides food to more than 132,000 people in need every month directly at community sites and through a network of 180 charitable agencies, is offering a variety of ways for you to donate during the holiday season.

The Food Bank's Concord warehouse, 4010 Nelson Ave., accepts nonperishable food and fresh produce donations as follows:

• Monday and Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Food Bank has also partnered with local supermarkets for donations during the holiday season.

At the Safeway Help Us End Hunger Holiday Food Drive, Nov. 16-Dec. 24, Safeway will offer the opportunity to purchase a $10 pre-packed bag of groceries, which will be donated to a local Food Bank. You pay for the pre-packaged bag of groceries and place the bag in one of the red in-store barrels. The Food Bank picks up the food each week.

During Food for Bay Area Families, Nov. 18 through the first week of January, 2012, CBS-5 is partnering with Whole Foods Market to help the Food Bank. Donate nonperishable items while shopping at Whole Foods Markets in Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Lafayette. Stores plan to have food displays into make it easier for customers to select healthy items to donate. Customers will have the opportunity to make a cash donation to the Food Bank at the register while checking out.

At Serving Up Hope, Fight Hunger Together, now through December, you may donate nonperishable food on your next shopping trip to Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky and Food Maxx stores. Customers will also be able to make a donation by purchasing a Serving Up Hope icon at the checkstand.

DVMS Annual Food Drive

Clayton's Diablo View Middle School is holding its annual food drive, which ends Wednesday, Nov. 16. The school is hoping for a total of 2,500 non-perishable items: canned goods, cereal, powdered milk, rice, pasta, beans, peanut butter and the like. No homework for students on Nov. 16 if the school reaches its goal!