FOOD Share begins its annual holiday drive
Vons in Camarillo among drop-off sites

This year's "Holiday Challenge" FOOD Share Ventura County's Food Bank's annual countywide food and fund drive began Wednesday and ends Dec. 24.

Hunger reaches virtually all communities across the United States, which does not exclude those close to home, here in Ventura County.

Clients seeking emergency food assistance today are not the stereotypical profile either. They are children, seniors, individuals in ill health, the working poor and the homeless. FOOD Share, Ventura County's food bank for the past two years, is feeding many more working-poor families.

A special kick-off event was held Thursday at the Vons supermarket on Rose Avenue in Oxnard.

Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten and Sheriff Bob Brooks are this year's honorary chairs.

The drive's goal is to collect 170,000 pounds of food to feed over 100,000 hungry people countywide.

"We're especially in need of non-perishable protein food items this year," said Ann Sobel, general manager. "Protein items-- peanut butter, tuna, etc., are of critical importance to the nutritional value of our food distribution to the hungry."

At the Camarillo Vons supermarket at Arneill Road and Mission Oak Boulevard, a donated storage container and yellow food barrels will be available for donations.

FOOD Share will collect the food from each Vons for distribution to the hungry.

For more information about the "Holiday Challenge" Food and Fund Drive, call Susie Burmester, food procurement coordinator at (805) 983-7100 Ext. 143.

All donations to FOOD Share will benefit needy children, families and seniors across the county. FOOD Share also has a food drive at www.foodshare.com.

Monetary donations to help FOOD Share purchase food in large, discounted bulk orders also can be made at the site.

For more information, call (805) 983-7100.