The City of Santa Clarita is sponsoring a Food Drive benefiting the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. During the month of December 2012, Santa Clarita residents are invited to drop off non-perishable food items to designated locations across the City to be donated directly to the Food Pantry.

“The City of Santa Clarita is partnering with the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry to help get the word out and provide additional drop-off locations for the holiday food drive,” commented Mayor Frank Ferry. “No child should go to bed hungry and community members’ non-perishable donations will assist the Food Pantry in meeting the needs of the less fortunate community members.”

Items most needed by the Food Pantry include:  peanut butter, tuna, canned meats, macaroni and cheese, canned fruits and tomatoes.

Collection bins for non-perishable food donations will be set up at seven City facilities including: City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard; the Transit Maintenance Facility, located at 28250 Constellation Road; the City’s Corporate Yard, located at 25663 Avenue Stanford; Old Town Newhall Library, located at 24500 Main Street; Valencia Library, located at 23743 Valencia Boulevard; and Jo Anne Darcy Library in Canyon Country, located at 18601 Soledad Canyon Road.

Non-perishable items may also be directly donated to the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, located at 24133 Railroad Avenue.  Donations will be accepted during business hours, which are 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Thursday.

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry has been distributing food to low-income residents of the Santa Clarita Valley since 1986. The Food Pantry relies on donations from the community to provide supplemental food on a short-term basis to qualified, local residents.

For more information on the City’s partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, including donation guidelines and additional ways to donate, visit scvfoodpantry.org or contact Belinda Crawford of the Food Pantry at (661) 255-9078.