Flair Cleaners, Southern California’s leading eco-friendly dry cleaners, will host the second annual Flair Cares Spring Food Drive, May 1 through 31, at its Valencia location, 27011 McBean Parkway, benefitting the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. Flair will make a matching contribution of up to 1,000 pounds of food donated by customers and give everyone who donates a coupon for 50 percent off a future visit to Flair Cleaners.

“According to Feeding America, Los Angeles County has the highest number of residents in the country that go hungry every day,” said Gary Futterman. “Hunger affects our neighbors, the elderly, Veterans, and children we see every day, not those who are typically portrayed as poor. Knowing this, we had to do what we could to support the admirable work of nonprofits in our communities that fight to end hunger and help those in need.”

In Valencia 8.6 percent of the residents earn income that is below the poverty level. Of those, 3.0 percent earn income less than 50 percent below the poverty level. More than 38 percent of the disabled residents in our community live below the poverty level. The hungry in our neighborhoods include:

Children in preschool, after-school, and day-care programs that don’t get enough to eat at home and whose health, academic performance, and general well-being are threatened by hunger.
Unemployed, under-employed, and working poor people who need help making ends meet.
Seniors on fixed incomes and the frail elderly.
Women and children living in domestic violence shelters.
Homeless individuals who are without the basic necessities.
The mentally ill, the disabled, and those with chronic illnesses who need assistance.
Veterans who may face the challenges of readjustment, ill-health, or poverty.

Flair customers and members of the community should bring unopened, non-perishable commercially prepared, canned or boxed food to Flair Cleaners – Valencia by May 31. Food items that have passed their expiration dates or items in glass jars cannot be accepted. For a complete list of recommended food items, visit Flair Cleaners’ Facebook page.

Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry strives to alleviate hunger throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Their dynamic group of volunteers sources donations, packages nutritious food to stretch a family’s food supply and distributes that food to qualifying residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.