Donations for Food Bank Needed to Keep Providing for Families
At the start of the pandemic, it became very clear that the restrictions many people faced related to employment and illness heightened the already precarious situation they faced with regard to food poverty. We took immediate action and developed our own food bank for our clients, initially, through generous support from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Community Foundation of Monterey County. The rising cost of living, ongoing un and underemployment means that the need for our food bank is as real as it was in 2020, if not greater.
Food insecurity is an issue in Monterey County
According to government studies in Salinas, a single woman pays 37% of her income to food alone. Additionally, rent, utilities, car payments, and insurance leave women stuck having to make impossible choices.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we often show appreciation for our own circumstances but part of the holiday’s culture is “giving”. Giving in today’s economic climate can mean the difference between choosing to pay rent or choosing to eat. Many of us shopping this holiday season grab an extra can or box of stuffing for the donation boxes in the front of the store. While this act of kindness goes a long way, we hope you will consider going further. Donations to our food bank are necessary to keep this program going.
From November 11th to December 31st, donations to YWCA-MC are funneled through MC Gives! in order to maximize donations. MC Gives! is a philanthropic effort in Monterey County where the donations are percentage matched. This means your donations reach further than ever. Every donation helps our food bank program to continue providing quality food to those in need. Hunger in Monterey Community is heartbreaking but non-profits like YWCA-MC work hard to get families the food they deserve. Food is a right and not a desire.
If you have considered supporting any of our programs in the past, now is the time to make that commitment! Supporting our food bank is an excellent way to pay it forward. Also, we will happily accept food donations. You can use Instacart to have them sent directly to our offices at 11 Quail Run Circle Salinas, CA 93901 If you choose this way to donate, only nonperishables can be accepted. Or drop off perishable items at the office during regular office hours Monday-Friday.
Make sure that everyone’s table is as bountiful as our own.
