Bringing Hope to the Table: CV’s Thanksgiving Food Drive Returns
Redwood Chapel and Castro Valley Outreach have joined forces to orchestrate a Thanksgiving food drive, aimed at tackling food insecurity and ensuring families can enjoy a holiday meal. This collaborative effort embodies the spirit of compassion and unity, as we come together to support those in need during this festive season.
After a pause during the pandemic, the beloved Castro Valley Thanksgiving food drive is back, with Redwood Chapel Community Church hosting the event in partnership with local nonprofit Castro Valley Outreach. Together, they’re bringing back a cherished tradition to support families facing temporary hardships and empowering them to select groceries that meet their needs.
This year marks a new chapter for the food drive, which previously took place at a different location. Castro Valley Outreach, known for its work with the Castro Valley Unified School District to identify families in need, is excited to join forces with Redwood Chapel to bring this vital event back to the community. “We’re committed to supporting our neighbors in any way we can,” said Connie Ma, president and board member for Castro Valley Outreach. “With the help of our volunteers and community donations, we aim to make a real difference.”
Pastor Jeff of Redwood Chapel expressed his gratitude for the partnership and the opportunity to serve: “Our congregation has a long-standing commitment to serving our neighbors. This food drive is a testament to the power of community coming together for a common purpose, and we hope to reach even more families this year.”
Community members can drop off non-perishable food items at participating schools, including Canyon Middle School, Creekside Middle School, and Castro Valley High School. Requested items include soup and broth, canned chicken, tuna, green beans, peas, corn, tomatoes, yams, fruit, canned beans, dried beans, rice, pasta, stuffing, muffin mix, mashed potatoes, fried onions, and cereal. No expired items will be accepted. All collected items will be distributed to families in need on November 26. Families interested in participating can register online, with the requirement that they have a student currently attending a school in the district.
Volunteers are invited to serve on November 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sort and organize donations and/or on November 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help families select and carry food items.
For more information on how to donate, register, or volunteer, please contact castrovalleyoutreach@gmail.com OR visit https://www.castrovalleyoutreach.org/. Castro Valley would accept all generous donations to continue their holiday efforts.
Castro Valley Outreach would like to send a special thank you to the following individuals for their donations: Nate Miley, Supervisor of District 4 in Alameda County, Carol Bigelow, Castro Valley Rotary, Fremont Bank.