Event to Collect Food for the Needy

In an effort to raise awareness about hunger in Ventura County, Food Share has invited elected officials and other community leaders to join volunteers at Boscovich Farms today to gather carrots for distribution to the needy.

Community Leaders Gleaning Day is one of several events planned by Food Share, the county’s regional food bank, for National Food Bank Week, which continues through Friday.

Through a network of 200 charitable agencies, the food collected and distributed by Food Share reaches 33,000 people each month, providing 298,000 meals.

One way Food Share gathers fresh fruit and vegetables is through “gleaning,” in which growers donate unused produce rather than discarding it. Once the extra produce is picked, it is taken back to Food Share’s headquarters in Oxnard and sold to the county’s food pantries.

“We’re holding the Community Leaders Gleaning Day because we want to bring awareness to the fact that hunger is an issue in our county, particularly with older people and children,” said Jim Mangis, Food Share executive director.

“We’ll have the decision makers, our own volunteers and the agencies that do the distribution of the food all there,” Mangis said.

Food Share is also holding a Dine Out--Help Out Day on Thursday as a National Food Bank Week fund-raising event. By eating out at one of 21 participating restaurants, anyone can ensure that 10% of their tab will go to support the work of Food Share.

Call (800) 727-9159 for a city-by-city listing of participating restaurants.