Home for the Holidays? Give Back in Stockton!
Photo by Clifford Oto from The Stockton Record: Volunteers load frozen turkeys into vehicles during the Stockton Emergency Food Bank’s annual Turkey Box giveaway.
Ways you can help provide meals to Stockton communities, along with resources for students.
As the holiday season approaches, it is time to reflect on the blessings we have and consider how we can share with those in need. In Stockton, struggles of food insecurity have continued to impact thousands of families, adults, children, and students. With 23.4% of the population in San Joaquin County experiencing food insecurity, the need for compassion and action is greater than ever. We have the opportunity, whether as students or local residents, to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others in our city. During this season of giving, here are some ways we can help out in the Stockton community:
Stockton Emergency Food Bank
The Emergency Food Bank has helped so many Stockton families and locals this fall, through events like the Annual Run & Walk Against Hunger on Thanksgiving morning and a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway! There are still plenty of ways to show your support through this amazing organization, such as volunteering during their Holiday Turkey Giveaway on December 20th and many other ongoing volunteer opportunities that can be found through the Pacific Volunteer Center. Although our local food bank is seeking volunteers and donations year-round, this time of year is a great time to get involved and to help ensure everyone has nourishing food and a supportive community during the holidays!
Local Grocery Stores
With many families struggling to put food on the table during upcoming holiday gatherings, many of our local grocery stores here in Stockton partner with the Emergency Food Bank to hold food drives or encourage donations to help local families:
Raley’s Food for Families program holds a Holiday Hope Drive where customers can donate at checkout to support Feeding America and its partner food pantries.
Safeway’s Nourishing Neighbors program encourages customers to donate $10 at checkout to support the Emergency Food Bank now through December 25.
Sprouts Farmers Market creates “Grab N’ Give” bags, pre-packed bags of food and personal care items, that customers can purchase to donate to food banks and local hunger relief agencies.
Lincoln Center and a couple of its local stores will also be holding a Food Drive on December 14 from 9am to 3pm in front of Trader Joe’s and Podesto’s Market & Deli, in which non-perishable food items will be collected and donated to the Emergency Food Bank.
Donating, volunteering, or bringing in food items to these local grocery stores are great ways to help out this year, and to support your community in any small way you can!
Pacific Volunteer Center events
If you are a Pacific student and want to get involved, the Pacific Volunteer Center is the perfect place to start. With plenty of local organizations looking for helpers during holiday festivities, students can join in with their peers, faculty, and fellow community members to make a difference. One upcoming event is the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church Grocery Giveaway on December 21st from 12pm-3:30pm, in which volunteers can help distribute groceries to families and individuals in the community. Some other organizations that are always in need of volunteers are St. Mary’s Dining Room where you can serve or prepare meals for those experiencing poverty or homelessness, and Bread of Life where you can pack grocery bags for those in need. While these are just a few of the many food service related options that serve our community, for more volunteer opportunities you can visit: https://www.pacific.edu/student-life/activities-and-programs/volunteer-center
On-Campus Resources & Involvement
Lastly, for students, and all Pacificans for that matter, who are either in need of food assistance or who just want to support Stockton solely on our own Pacific campus, there are some options available for you as well! The Grove has a seasonal donation bin to which you can either donate or help yourself to whatever you may need. The Pacific Food Pantry is another extremely helpful resource, where you can pick up some food or even volunteer to help staff organize, restock, or shelve new items. You can also donate to the food pantry any time! To check their list of frequently needed items, click here: https://www.pacific.edu/about/sustainability/food-pantry
Works Cited:
https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2017/child/california/county/san-joaquin