Westside Food Bank Holds First Annual "Holiday Food & Fund Drive"

By Teresa Rochester

As the government, business and media boast of a booming economy, social service agencies are helping an increasing number of the working poor, who cannot afford to put food on their tables.

"There's a higher proportion of people needing assistance with food," said Bruce Rankin, executive director of Westside Food Bank. "Most of the jobs newly created through the boom pay low enough so that a family of four is still below the poverty line."

To help combat hunger Westside Food Bank will hold its first annual "Holiday Food & Fund Drive." The food bank, which supplies food to 65 social service agencies, has set a goal of raising 300,000 pounds of food by December 30.

Participants can drop off cash or food donations at the Food Bank's warehouse in Santa Monica, 1710 22nd St., weekdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. or at the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, 501 Colorado Ave., Suite 150, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

While Westside Food Bank promotes food drives every year, this is the agency's first coordinated effort, Rankin said.

This year approximately 70,000 people, half of whom are children, have received food from the food bank at least once. The number of recipients has increased by 8,000 since 1998.

The theme of the Holiday Food & Fund Drive is "Working for a Hunger-Free Holiday." The drive is sponsored by RAND, Saint John's Health Center, Aaroe Associates Charitable Foundation, First Federal Bank, Fremont General and Rhino Records.

"Hunger never takes a holiday, and we can all contribute to making the season brighter for our neighbors in need," said Michael Rich, executive vice president of RAND, who co-chairs the drive. "What could be a more satisfying way to welcome the new millennium."

Food gathered during the food and fund drive will not only reach the working poor but the unemployed, seniors on fixed incomes, women and children living in domestic violence shelters and homeless individuals, as well as the mentally ill, the disabled and those with chronic illness.

For further information or to receive a donation form, please call: (310) 828-6016, ext. 10.