“Hungry-please help.” “ Will work for food.” “What if YOU were hungry?”
All of these signs bring about different reactions in the hearts of readers: sympathy, pity, anger and fear.
The last one comes to the heart of the matter, “What if YOU or YOUR FAMILY were hungry?”
It's estimated 1 in 7 people in Silicon Valley are "food insecure". This means there may not always be enough money for food after paying for necessitiers like shelter, transportation, utilities and insurance.
Locally my church, The Home Church, at 1711 S. Winchester in Campbell has a long-standing food ministry. The Home Church partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute food every Friday morning (sometimes this changes for holidays). My sweet husband Steve volunteers and helps with this important community ministry.
A big-hearted group of real estate agents, loan officers and ancillary service people in San Jose, Saratoga, Palo Alto, Campbell, Los Gatos and Cupertino are also acting to help provide for those in need at the holidays and all year long. Now is the annual holiday food drive.
Both local real estate associations participate in holiday food drives to benefit Second Harvest. San Jose-based Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS (SCCAOR) at 1651 S. First St. in San Jose and Cupertino, Calif.-based Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) at 10040 Bubb Road in Cupertino, near the 280/Stevens Creek exit are collecting food (and monetary)
Please consider dropping off -perishable food items at either location, as well as at many local real estate offices.
When donating, make sure items are intact (not dented or torn), not in glass containers and with a good shelf life left. Second Harvest shares this list of nutritious, long-lasting and much-needed items below:
FAMILIES: Here are suggestions of most needed food items for families.
• Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup) 
• Tuna and canned meat
• Peanut butter
• Canned foods with pop-top lids
• Low-sugar cereals
• 100% fruit juices in single serving boxes
• Canned fruit packed in juice
• Canned vegetables (low salt)
CHILDREN: The Food Bank needs nutritious, non-perishable, single-serving foods for use in programs for children.
• Pop-Top Tuna
• 100% Fruit Rolls
• Raisins
• Graham Crackers
• Unsweetened Applesauce
• Cheese and Crackers
• Fruit Cups
• Low-sugar Cereal Bowls
• Pretzels
• 100% Fruit Juice Boxes
• Granola Bars (without peanuts)
Images courtesy of public domain and author's own collection.
Thank you for reading this, and helping families who otherwise might go hungry at the holidays in Silicon Valley this year.
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