Approximately 300 families lined the sidewalk from the Railroad Avenue location of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry along 4th Street and down San Fernando Road Tuesday morning as members of the SC Rotary began to unload and distribute more than 250 turkeys they donated to the SCV Food Pantry for their annual Turkey Giveaway. The turkeys had been stored by Newhall Ice Company prior to distribution and were delivered via forklift. The pallets of turkeys lined the curb directly in front of the Pantry.
Families waited patiently as SCV Food Pantry volunteers gave them boxes or bags of side dishes donated by local Girl Scout Troops or prepared by Pantry volunteers to complement their Thanksgiving turkey. “I try to get here every two weeks. The Food Pantry really helps me, my wife and three children until I can return to work. All the workers here are the best. They are so nice.” stated Paul Sutherland of Saugus.
Turkeys donated by the Valencia Water Company and clients of Rod McIntosh Realty were also distributed this holiday season to clients of the SCV Food Pantry along with ham dinners from Albertson’s markets through local donations to their Turkey Buck program. “Our clients were so excited to learn that they would receive a turkey this Thanksgiving. It’s been such a tough year for so many of them. We’ve experienced a 60% increase in the number of individuals seeking our services this year over the same period in 2007. More and more families are struggling just to put food on their tables.” said Belinda Crawford, executive director of the SCV Food Pantry. “It’s only through the generous support of the SC Rotary, Rod McIntosh, the Valencia Water Co along with Supervisor Antonovich’s office and our community supporting the efforts of Albertson’s markets through their Turkey Buck program that many of our clients will be able to provide their families with a turkey or ham dinner this Thanksgiving.”
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry was established in 1986 by a small group of community volunteers and has been helping those less fortunate in the SCV for the past 22 years. They’re neighbors helping neighbors with the commitment that “no child in the Santa Clarita Valley should go to bed hungry.”
For information about food donations or volunteer opportunities at the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, call 661-255-9078 or contact info@scvfoodpantry.org .
