School district seeking donations for annual Holiday Food Drive
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Public Schools is seeking help from the local community to feed hungry children over the holidays.
The district has launched its annual Holiday Food Drive, which provided boxes of food for more than 800 families last year. Organizers are seeking donations of food items or money to help families during the upcoming Winter Break in December, which runs for two weeks.
“Families rely on those school meals for their children when school is in session,” said food drive organizer Kelley Kostamo. “With schools closed during the break, they lose that support, but we don’t want children going hungry.”
The district is continuing its collaboration with the non-profit organization Food4Kids, which also helps with the collection, packing, and distribution of the food boxes. Local businesses, schools, service organizations, churches, and other groups are also participating.
A specific list of the food items needed for each box is available on the district’s website at www.sbac.edu/foodbox. The district’s goal is to provide all families with similar items, including enough food for regular meals during the break and a holiday meal.
Donations of food can be dropped off at Lincoln Middle School (1001 SE 12th St.) and Westwood Middle School (3215 NW 15th Ave.) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and at the District Office (620 E. University Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Arrangements can also be made for donations to be picked up by emailing Kostamo at kostamkb@gm.sbac.edu or calling (352) 955-7250, ext. 6411.
The district is also using monetary donations to purchase food. Such donations can be made online at The Education Foundation of Alachua County website at edfoundationac.org. Just click on the Donate button and designate ‘Emergency Food/Food Baskets’ on the drop-drown menu.
The deadline for food donations is December 14. The deadline for monetary contributions is December 17.