HELPING HAND
Lake Family Resource Center food card giveaway to donate 400 cards to Southshore residents, another 400 to Northshore residents in December
LAKE COUNTY » A boost for holiday tables around Lake County comes from Lake Family Resource Center, and this help comes in the form of 400 food cards donated by Foods, Etc. in Clearlake and another 400 food cards donated by Bruno’s Shop Smart in Lakeport. The cards will be distributed during a drive-through for Southshore residents Dec. 4 and for Northshore residents Dec. 17.
With its administrative office located in Kelseyville, LFRC took over the food program from the Hunger Task Force that disbanded in 1995 when its members retired. Initially started in 1995 as Lake Health Alliance, LFRC changed its name and took over as an unaffiliated, completely independent private nonprofit, community benefit corporation in 2006. It follows this philosophy, “We believe everyone deserves a stable and healthy family life. We strengthen a family’s ability to become safe and self-sufficient. We work toward total family wellness, which encompasses physical, emotional, spiritual and economic health. We strive to connect families with community resources that meet their needs. We treat people with dignity and respect.”
LFRC offers services in child and youth development, health and wellness, family and community education, family and community violence prevention, intervention and treatment while overseeing the Lakeport Senior Center.
This is their second offering of gift food cards. Prior to the pandemic, they offered food boxes for approximately 15 years, according to Beth Berinti, the LFRC point person on the project.
“We have a fund that’s for the county, divided into north and south,” Berinti said in explaining how the program is funded. “We
have $10,000 for the north and $10,000 for the south. Dennis Darling, owner of Foods, Etc., has matched the $10,000 for the south and Bruno’s is donating the same amount as last year for the north.”
“This is the second year in a row that we’ve done this gift food card,” Darling said. “The Christmas food giveaway is very important to our community and we’re happy to help. We’ve always donated food. Our people helped make the food baskets for many years. Last year Lake FRC decided to use gift cards, which the recipients can use to buy any food stuff that they want (from Foods, Etc.). Just food goods.”
Added Darling, “We feel very blessed to be part of the Lake County community and we do all that we can to support it.”
“This is something Lake FRC does every year,” Berinti said. “People look forward to it. Some people have said they wouldn’t even have a holiday meal if it weren’t for this program. So, the community is highly appreciative and we’re happy to be able to continue with what the Hunger Task Force began.”
Sharon Maher, communications coordinator for LFRC said, “I was a recipient of this program before and being able to offer a holiday meal for my kid felt like a big win. It changed my perspective during a difficult time by reminding me there are people in this community that care and want me to win simply because I live here. I was able to feel like everything was OK and truly enjoy the day with my kid.”
Maher added, “Throughout the entire year, people can make money donations to West America Bank to the Holiday Food Program account. Or they can donate directly via our website.”
Southshore residents include residents of Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks, Spring Valley, Clearlake and Lower Lake. Cards can be picked up at drive-through at Burns Valley School parking lot from 10 a.m. on Dec. 4 until the 400 cards are gone.
Northshore residents include residents of Kelseyville, Finley, Lakeport, Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne. Cards can be picked up during the drivethrough at 896 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport starting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 17 until the 400 cards are gone.
The Lake Family Resource Center website is: lakefrc.org