Food is such an important part of how we celebrate this holiday season – but for 465,000 neighbors in Contra Costa and Solano who face hunger each month, food means even more. As you get ready to enjoy a day of good meals and good company, we’ve compiled five easy ways to help ensure all of us can do the same.
1. Support while you shop
Thanks to two of our grocery partners, you can give back while you pick up those last-minute Thanksgiving ingredients!
- Safeway, NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48 are hosting their annual Nourishing Neighbors fundraiser at participating Safeways across the Bay Area all month long. Donate $10 at the register to help purchase food for local food banks.
- Raley’s annual Food for Families Holiday Hope fundraiser runs throughout the holiday season. Purchase a holiday bear, make a donation at the register or donate online to support neighbors in need. 100% of your donation stays in your community.
Working on your holiday gift-buying over the long weekend? A Food Bank donation makes a meaningful holiday present for everyone on your list. You’ll give us the ability to provide the food that holiday meals and memories are made of, and your recipient will receive a special ecard letting them know they’ve inspired kindness across their community.
2. Trot for good
Support the Food Bank and work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving meal with these fun community events:
- Bishop Ranch Turkey Trot, Bishop Ranch City Center – 6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon
- Moraga Turkey Trot, Moraga Country Club – 1600 St. Andrews Drive
- Brazen Racing Nitro Turkey, Point Pinole Regional Park, San Pablo
- Forma Gym Turkey Trot, Civic Park, 1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
3. Start a Virtual Food Drive
A virtual food drive is an online fundraiser that makes it easy to bring friends, family and your community together to do good. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and every $1 you raise will provide enough food for two meals! Here are a few fun ways to incorporate a drive into your holiday plans:
- Organize a movie night or happy hour and ask guests to donate the price of a movie ticket, snacks and a soda or what they would have spent on restaurant drinks and appetizers.
- Host a Halloween costume, ugly sweater, gingerbread house or cookie contest, set a donation fee to attend and vote on favorites.
- Use social media to request contributions in honor of a special someone, a life event or your holiday wishes.
4. Share what food means to you
Food means different things to each of us, but it means something for all of us. To raise awareness of the 1 in 4 neighbors in our community facing hunger, share what food means to you on social media and tag us @FoodBankCCS. We’ll share your thoughts with our community to encourage others to give back and fight hunger!
Want some inspiration to get started? Check out this video.
5. Come spend the day with us!
To celebrate Giving Tuesday we’re throwing open the doors at our Concord and Fairfield warehouses and giving you an insider’s look at what it takes to fight hunger every day. We’ll be hosting free tours every hour from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28. RSVP now for a fascinating look at how we do what we do, and how YOU help us do it!
See the impact you make
Your actions add up to an incredible impact – sign up for our email newsletter to see how! We’ll share stories about the programs and partnerships you support and the lives you are changing daily.
