In The News...

Season of giving begins in earnest
Posted November 30, 2011 at 1:44 p.m.

The giving season kicked off the day before Thanksgiving when 15 volunteers from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) helped serve 800 free turkey lunches at the Ventura County Rescue Mission in Oxnard.

“Not only are they serving our country,” said the rescue mission director, John Saltee, “they’re also serving our poor.”

Among the volunteers were Capt. Jim McHugh, commanding officer of the base, and Capt. David Sasek, the chief staff officer. They were joined by a contingent of culinary specialists, several volunteers from Air Operations and Religious Ministries and individuals who simply wanted to help.

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/30/season-of-giving-begins-in-earnest/#ixzz1fPMUkMEG 

 or download a PDF Version of this article.

Feast Bittersweet
Story Created: Nov 23, 2011 PST
Story Updated: Nov 28, 2011 at 9:11 AM PST 

November 2011- Oxnard - Organizers of the annual Thanksgiving meal at the Ventura County Rescue Mission are mourning a murder victim who should have been at their feast Wednesday. Many people at today's meal said a prayer for the 32-year-old Sarah Overholser.

A photo of the homeless mother from Oxnard is up on the wall near the dining hall. She battled depression before she was found strangled off the coast.

The Rescue Mission serves about 800 meals day in Oxnard and on this day hundreds of volunteers waited the tables. The Mission is known for it's large kitchen.

This year their chefs cooked 3,000 pounds of turkey and delivered meals to other non-profits in need of food. Watch the video interview

Hundreds Enjoy Early Thanksgiving at Oxnard Rescue Mission

By Anne Kallas
Posted November 23, 2011 at 5:26 p.m., updated November 23, 2011 at 6:18 p.m

November 2011 - More than 800 people were served meals at Wednesday's Thanksgiving feast, according to chef Mike Lodi, who was volunteering in the kitchen. He added that more than 290 turkeys were prepared — a total of more than 4,000 pounds of meat.

"We wanted to help people in need to be able to smile," Saltee said. "We're giving back to people who are having a hard time. We are thankful for such beautiful day to feed those who would not necessarily have a Thanksgiving."

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/23/hundreds-enjoy-early-thanksgiving-at-oxnard/ 
- vcstar.com 

See the Ventura County Star Photo Album of this Thanksgiving event: http://www.vcstar.com/photos/galleries/2011/nov/23/hundreds-enjoy-early-thanksgiving-oxnard-rescue/?preventMobileRedirect=1

 San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission Serves the Needy

November 2011 - A large turnout of people as the the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission served up to 600-700 people in need who are homeless and hungry Thanksgiving Dinner at The Church On The Way. Van Nuys CA. November 22nd, 2011. photo by Gene Blevins/LA Daily News. See photo album of event. (This will take you outside of this website.)

Victor Valley Rescue Mission's Real Heart... Hear how you can help with the food drive...
(Listen to the SOS Radio interview)
 

As holidays loom, food banks say they have less to give as need grows...

By Dana Bartholomew, Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: 11/06/2011 01:00:00 AM PDT

There may be less to gobble for the poor on Thanksgiving.
Food banks across Los Angeles report soaring demand and fewer donations leading into the holiday season.
“We have a shortage of food for this time of year, more so this year than ever,” said Will Hernandez, director of Valley Food Bank in Pacoima. “We’ve got more people needing food. And we have less (food). “So that’s a bad combination.” Read entire article (PDF)

 Rescue Mission Hopes to Honor Poor

By Gina Potthoff / Staff Writer / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  | Posted: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:00 am 

October 2011 - The Central Coast Rescue Mission in Santa Maria hopes to continue honoring the poor this year through its item
drives and Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration.

To better fulfill that mission, the group is asking for turkey and other item donations, more volunteers and help from community businesses.

The mission is seeking turkey donations for the Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the Veterans Hall in Santa Maria.
Read entire article (PDF)

Nearly 1 in 6 Americans in poverty, Census says 

October 2011 -WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of the nation’s poor have swelled to a record 46.2 million — nearly 1 in 6 Americans — as the prolonged pain of the recession leaves millions still struggling and out of work. And the number without health insurance has reached 49.9 million, the most in over two decades.

More Than One-third of High Desert Population gets Public Assistance

August 2011  — Tasked with providing for a household of six in Old Town Victorville, Judy Musgrave is scraping by to make ends meet and raise her youngest grandchildren. For free meals and clothing, the soft-spoken 65-year-old frequents the Victor Valley Rescue Mission, where she’s also a familiar volunteer. Her 20-hour work week at the Goodwill thrift store was recently cut in half, so she relies on Social Security payments, trips to the recycling center and odd jobs here and there to pay the bills.
Read entire article (PDF)

Grainger Grant Award Will Increase Food Distribution to Needy Families

July 2011 - Thanks to the generosity of the Grainger Community Grants program, thousands of families in need will receive emergency food assistance through Valley Food Bank’s Fighting Hunger – Feeding Hope program. Their generous $5,000 grant will be used to purchase an electric pallet jack in order to increase food collection and distribution efforts to families seeking help.

Valley Food Bank Receives $25K Grant from Walmart to Expand Services

June 2011 - The Walmart Foundation awarded a very generous $25,000 grant toward the expansion of the food bank’s Fighting Hunger – Feeding Hopeprogram.Their generous support will help us to increase our distribution efforts to numerous pantries throughout the San Fernando Valley to prevent hunger and food insecurity for families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.