Annual Holiday Food Program continues

LAKE COUNTY >> As the former Hunger Task Force members retired and the group disbanded in 2020, Lake Family Resource Center (Lake FRC) is honored to be chosen by the former Hunger Task Force to continue the annual Holiday Food Program. This program collects community donations Throughout the year, people can make money donations to any West America Bank into the Holiday Food Program account and those donations are used the following year to provide the holiday meals. This year, 400 cards were distributed to the Southshore and 400 will be distributed to the Northshore.

For approximately 15 years the former Hunger Task Force offered food boxes that volunteers, including Lake FRC, would help pack and distribute to the community. This will be the first year that Lake FRC is leading the efforts and the second year that food gift cards will be offered instead of food boxes.

Northshore residents will receive a food gift card to Bruno’s, while Southshore will receive a food gift card to Foods Etc., which is owned by Dennis Darling.

“The Christmas food giveaway is very important to our community and we’re happy to help.” Darling said, adding “We feel very blessed to be part of the Lake County community and we do all that we can to support it.”

Beth Berinti, who’s coordinating the holiday food program this year, shared “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.”

Throughout the year, people can make money donations to any West America Bank into the Holiday Food Program account and those donations are used the following year to provide the holiday meals. This year, 400 cards were distributed to the Southshore and 400 to the Northshore.

Sharon Maher, Communications Coordinator for Lake FRC 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 okay and truly enjoy the day with my kid.”

Lake Family Resource Center initially started in 1995 as the Lake Health Alliance. Brought into being through a collaboration between Sutter Lakeside Hospital and (what was then) Redbud Hospital to provide community benefit through nonmedical programs. After a friendly transition in 2006, Lake FRC changed its name and became the local non-profit, family resource center you see today. Lake FRC aligns with the following philosophy, “We believe everyone deserves a stable and healthy family life. We strengthen a family’s ability to become safe and self-sufficient, work toward total family wellness and strive to connect families with community resources that meet their needs. We treat people with dignity and respect.”

Lake FRC offers services in child and youth development, health and wellness, family and community education, family and community violence prevention, intervention, and treatment while also overseeing the Lakeport Senior Center.

This year, Southshore residents signed up and received a card at the drivethrough event on December 4 at the Burns Valley School parking lot until all 400 gift food cards were gone. Southshore includes residents of Glenhaven, Clearlake Oaks, Spring Valley, Clearlake and Lower Lake.Northshore residents which include Kelseyville, Finley, Lakeport, Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne, can sign up and receive a card at the drive-through event on Friday December 17 from 9 am until all 400 cards are gone. This event will be at Lake FRCs Lakeport office located at 896 Lakeport Blvd.

The latest donation is from Doc Starin in loving memory of his wife (Clara) and son (Charlie),

For more information, please contact Beth Berinti at 707-279-0563 or reach out by emailing info@lakefrc.org.