Annual food drive at Governor's Mansion finds new home at north Albertsons

As the 13th annual Share Your Holiday Food Drive nears, Lisa Lee, director of Advocates to End Domestic Violence, wants the community to know it is not going to be at the Governor's Mansion this year.

"We're trying to get the word out to everybody," Lee said. "This is our major food drive of the year. This will get us into spring time."

The food drive is hosted by Channel 2 News of Reno, to benefit Advocates in Carson City, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada in Sparks, and the Carson Valley Food Closet in Gardnerville. Hours of the food drive are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Donors will still be able to make a drive-by food delivery at Albertsons. Volunteers will be stationed to collect food from the driver, remove it from the back of a pickup or trunk of a car.

"We need volunteers for this year, too," Lee said.

Service groups or individual volunteers can call Advocates, 883-7654, to sign up to volunteer from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday.

"Six in the morning to 6 at night is a bit of a long day," Lee said. "For our volunteers, we suggest sensible clothing and mittens.

"We also need entertainment. With the date change it's difficult to get school kids to come, so we need to fill air time. Anyone who wants to sing carols or entertain, please call. But what a time to volunteer.

"We're also looking at this food drive to be a little more challenging because of so many national tragedies," Lee added. "Tsunamis, hurricanes and other overseas crises.

"We're concerned it will be a little tighter for families to give to those in need."

Janice Hoke, communications manager for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada said though the date is closer to Christmas, it will make people think more about giving at Christmas.

"People are very generous around the holidays," Hoke said. "More people think about others this time of year."

Hoke is pleased with having Albertsons as a drop-off point because the store is visible, has good parking and access.

"Albertsons has been a great supporter (of the Food Bank) through the years."

Items most needed are sauces, beans, vegetables and pasta, as are canned meats like tuna and chili.

"We buy meat and fresh produce, but can use flour and sugar. Staples like that."

Snacks for children's lunches are also needed. Crackers with cheese, little cans of fruit and peanut butter and jelly are great additions.

"We will have more than 150 children stay in the shelter this year," Lee said. "That's a lot of lunches and snacks we try to supplement for them."

Lee said an RV donated by Michael Hohl RV will be available for the volunteers and news crew to step inside and warm up.

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada served more than 58,000 people from July 2004 to June 2005. Its service area covers 80,000 square miles, including to Susanville, Calif., and South Lake Tahoe.

n Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

Help for the holidays

WHAT: 13th annual Share Your Holiday Food Drive

WHEN: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 16

WHERE:

• Carson City: Albertsons, 3620 N. Carson St.

• Minden: Carson Valley Inn on Highway 395

• Reno: R.C. Willey furniture store on Steamboat Parkway, and the Reno Hilton

BENEFITS: Advocates to End Domestic Violence

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; CALL: 883-7654