Food Bank Prepares for Holiday Drive

FOOD Share, Ventura County’s food bank, is challenging local businesses, schools and residents to help feed the region’s hungry during the holiday season.

The organization, which serves more than 127,000 needy people in the county each month by distributing nonperishable foodstuffs through 183 agencies, is delivering collection barrels to businesses and schools wishing to compete in its Holiday Challenge ’96.

Food Share hopes to raise at least 60,000 pounds of food by the competition’s Dec. 15 deadline. The business or school that collects the most food will win a trophy.

Donations for the Holiday Challenge ’96 food drive are already being collected at 30 businesses and schools, including Cal Lutheran University and Noah’s Bagels. Donations will also be accepted at 19 Vons supermarkets in the county Dec. 8-15.

Contributors should drop donations of nonperishable foodstuffs, such as canned meats and vegetables, peanut butter, rice, beans, soups, juices and cooking oils, into the collection barrel.

To participate in the drive, or to volunteer to sort donated food for distribution, call Jeff Dronkers at (805) 983-7100.