Turkey Shortage at Coastside Hope: Can You Help?

Food banks around the Bay Area —like Coastside Hope in El Granada — are asking for more donations as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

Second Harvest Food Bank of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties said that with Thanksgiving less than a week away, it is still only half-way towards its goal of collecting 12,000 donated turkeys to distribute to needy families.

Second Harvest partners with incorporated, non-profit agencies that serve at least 70 percent low-income people such as Coastside Hope, a community-based organization dedicated to providing emergency food, clothing, shelter, and other safety net services for Coastsiders in need.

During the holiday season, turkey is an important tradition for many local families, said Second Harvest spokeswoman Caitlin Kerk.

But collecting turkeys is only one of the food bank's holiday goals.           

"Since Thanksgiving is next week, turkeys are our immediate need...but our monetary goal is $12.4 million and 2 million pounds of non-perishable foods that will feed many needy families throughout the coming year."

According to Kerk, turkey donations to Second Harvest are slightly behind what they were at the same time last year. Kerk said she suspected the lag had been caused by national attention on the November elections.

Turkey donations — frozen turkeys only please — can be dropped off at Coastside Hope, 99 Ave Alhambra Ave., El Granada. Or if you're over the hill, you can drop off turkeys at Second Harvest's San Carlos center at 1051 Bing St. or at its San Jose center at 750 Curtner Ave.

Cash donations can be made online at www.SHFB.org. The website also has more information about donation center hours of operation.

— Bay City News