Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. Anthony Robbins
It’s just that simple to give. An interoffice email was sent out to our staff at The Magazine of Santa Clarita requesting items to donate for the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. Little did we know that by the week’s end, we had four bins of donated items to give. It was as simple as that, yet it meant much more to those in need.
Did you know that Los Angeles County is considered the hunger capital of our nation? Or that many of our senior citizens are faced with choices of whether to buy required medication or food they need? That 50 percent of the clients of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry are children?
Established in 1986 by a small group of community volunteers, the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry uses food donations from the community to provide supplemental food on a short-term basis to qualified local residents. The Pantry distributes over $400,000 in food and necessities to those in need in Santa Clarita every year.
The mission of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry is to alleviate hunger throughout our Valley. They accomplish this with a dynamic group of volunteers who source donations, package nutritious food to stretch a family’s food supply and distribute that food to qualifying residents in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The Pantry would not exist without the support and generous donations of those in our community as well as their dedicated volunteers. And while many mouths are fed, the Pantry often runs low on stock of staples of protein-rich foods like peanut butter and canned beans and meats. The SCV Food Pantry’s website often updates their wish list for donation. “Bar Soap and Hygiene Products are often needed,” states Belinda Crawford, Executive Director.
If you would like to help, the Pantry is always in need of non-perishable foods and volunteer help. You can also donate money by mailing a check or going online to help support the Pantry and their mission to assist those in our community.
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry is located at 24133 Railroad Avenue in Newhall.
For more information or to donate call 661-255-9078 or visit www.scvfoodpantry.org.