Long Beach Community Food Drive Kicks Off

Mayor Bob Foster, Food Finders, Friends of Long Beach Animals and We Love Long Beach are partnering together in this year’s Long Beach Community Food Drive with a goal to collect 100,000 pounds of food.

Barrels will be placed in several locations throughout the city to collect canned or packaged food as well as pet food to help out needy families and pets in Long Beach. Donations will be accepted starting today until Jan. 31, 2011. “Long Beach residents and businesses have always responded generously to our request for donations,” said Mayor Foster. “This year’s food drive goal is to collect 100,000 pounds of food, which would provide three meals a day to approximately 2,547 families for a week.”

Food Finders will collect from locations and then distribute the donated food to more than 100 organizations in Long Beach. “Many families won’t be able to have festive dinners or toys for the kids this year without our help,” said Arlene Mercer, Food Finders executive director. “Once again, we are asking for canned and packaged food as well as pet food. This year, we are also asking for monetary donations to help Food Finders purchase turkeys and hams to be given to Long Beach families.”

Additonally The Friends of Long Beach Animals will be collecting and distributing the donated pet food to owners who are finding it a challenge to provide for themselves and their pets. “It is a tragic reality that some pet owners are forced to consider the relinquishment of their pets due to the lack of household funds needed to properly feed and care for their animals,” said John Gonzales, president of the Friends of Long Beach Animals. “We ask that everyone include a pet food item with their donation. Helping our neighbors and their pets during difficult times will make Long Beach a better place.”

The newest partner in the food drive is the nonprofit We Love Long Beach. “The Long Beach Community Food Drive is the perfect chance for all of us to work together and make a difference in the lives of families and individuals throughout our city,” said Scott Jones, co-founder/director of We Love Long Beach. “We’re once again grateful for the partnership between Food Finders, the Mayor and Friends of Long Beach Animals. One hundred thousand pounds! Let’s do this!”

For a complete list of suggested items and drop-off locations, visit www.longbeach.gov/mayor.

Additional collection sites will be added in the coming weeks. About Food Finders Food Finders, Inc. is a multi-regional food bank that serves as a conduit between the donors, service agencies and people in need. The non-profit provides food to feed the impoverished and hungry people, and referral services in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. For more information, visit www.foodfinders.org.

About Friends of Long Beach Animals Friends of Long Beach Animals is a non-profit organization committed to saving animals’ lives through spay/neuter programs. They are dedicated to responsible pet ownership, education and humane treatment of all animals. www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org

About We Love Long Beach We Love Long Beach is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to know and serve the people, the neighborhoods and the city of Long Beach. Through service learning education, neighborhood events, service projects and strategic partnerships, WLLB is fostering active citizenship in the lives of people throughout the city. www.welovelongbeach.org