LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Oct. 27 community members have the chance to make a difference in their community by helping to feed the hungry.
The Lake County Hunger Task Force, Lake County Office of Education AmeriCorps program, North Coast Opportunities Community Action and Lake Transit are collaborating to collect nonperishable food for five senior centers and 13 food pantries in Lake County.
The main collection will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, on Make A Difference Day, a nationwide day of volunteering.
This is the 13th year in a row that this project has been carried out for Make A Difference Day. All food donated will be distributed in Lake County.
Lake County Office of Education AmeriCorps members will be in front of seven markets on that Saturday collecting food. Look for them at Hardester’s Market in Middletown, Foods Etc. IGA in Clearlake, Red & White Store in Clearlake Oaks, Riviera Foods in the Clear Lake Riviera, Sentry Market in Nice, Safeway in Lakeport and Clearlake Grocery Outlet.
Members of the Lake County Hunger Task Force will be at two additional locations, Hardester’s on Cobb and Lakeport Grocery Outlet.
For the third year in a row, Lake Transit will park one of their buses in front of Lakeport Grocery Outlet where participants will Stuff-A-Bus full of food. Anyone wishing to help stuff the bus can come down at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and help.
New this year is a precollection of food, accomplished by placing collection bins throughout the county.
Bins are now located at the Lake County Court House, Lakeport Grocery Outlet, Lake County Office of Education, Kelseyville Food Center, Riviera Foods, Rosales Market, Hardester’s Middletown, Hardester’s Hidden Valley Lake, Hardester’s Cobb, Hidden Valley Food Mart, Lakeport Library, Lake County Record-Bee, Redbud Library, Lower Lake Coffee, Ray’s Food Place, Foods Etc. IGA, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Indian Beach, Lakeview Market, North Shore Sentry, Upper Lake High School, Hi Way Grocery, Bruno’s Shop Smart, Kelseyville High School, Red & White, John’s Market, Middletown High School, Clear Lake High School, Mendo Lake Credit Union in Lakeport and Clearlake, Tower Mart in Lucerne, Marina Market, Meadowbrook Head Start, Lower Lake High School, Kelseyville Primary School, Konocti Christian Academy, St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, Clearlake Family Health Clinic, Carlé High School and NCO offices in Ukiah.
For anyone who will not be shopping on Oct. 27, please make donations at these schools or businesses. All nonperishable items would be welcome.
If you have donations to make and cannot get to one of these places, please call and the groups will arrange for pick up.
The donations will be distributed to Lakeport Senior Center, Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, Live Oak Senior Center, Middletown Senior Center, Highlands Senior Center, Helping Hand, One Step Away, NCO Community Action, The Bridge, Lake Family Resource Center, CCHAP, Free Kitchen Project, Yvonne Cox, Healthy Start, Cookhouse free dinner, Catholic Charities Rural Food Project, Gleaners and United Christian Parish pantry.
For anyone who wishes to help either collect food, or stuff-a-bus, please call Tammy Alakszay at 707-994-4647, Extension 123, or Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227.