Second Harvest Food Bank Seeks 2 Million Pounds Of Food In Holiday Drive
SAN JOSE (kCBS) — A holiday food drive with a lofty fundraising goal got under way in the South Bay Thursday morning.
San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York and former player Guy McIntyre hosted a "tailgate" party in downtown San Jose to kick off this year's collection drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
This year's goal is to raise $12.4 million and distribute 2 million pounds of food, organizers said.
"It's just a horrific effect. That not having enough food and not having the proper nutrition is a cycle. What we're asking you to do here is to help end this cycle," McIntyre said.
York and McIntyre, who was on three 49ers teams that won the Super Bowl, were on hand at the food bank's Cypress Center at 4001 First St. in San Jose.
According to the food bank, one in ten people in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties turn to Second Harvest for food.
Second Harvest CEO Kathy Jackson said half of the charity's revenues are raised during the holiday season. "Hungry people are all around us. They're real people, they're walking an economic tightrope and the loss of a job or an unexpected health emergency could send them tumbling," Jackson told KCBS.
In the afternoon, a number of representatives of Cisco Systems, including CEO John Chambers and chairman emeritus John Morgridge, planned to sort and pack food at the center's warehouse.
Those wishing to contribute to the drive can visit the organization's website at http://www.shfb.org/.
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