Argus-Courier Editorial: Support local food providers

Most Petaluma residents will pause today to give thanks for their blessings, spend time with their families and sit down to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

But for thousands of others in southern Sonoma County, the day will be very different. Despite the apparent prosperity here, the reality is that many of our neighbors are quietly living with hunger and malnourishment. Some must choose between paying the rent or buying groceries, so a big holiday meal is out of the question.

Many of the hungry in Petaluma are children, members of working class families whose low income levels leave them unable to afford food and other necessities. Surveys have shown that nearly 40 percent of all county food recipients are children, which is especially worrisome due to the importance of proper nutrition during their developmental years.

Many seniors are also vulnerable due to the combination of being on fixed incomes and incurring higher medical costs. Often they are forced to choose between paying for food or other expenses, such as gas for their car, utilities, medicine or rent.

As we enter a time of the year when the privations of others become more apparent, it’s an ideal time to consider supporting one of the many outstanding nonprofit organizations seeking financial contributions to provide food to people in need. These are local organizations run by local people, supported by local volunteers, that operate with minimal overhead.

The Redwood Empire Food Bank and other assistance programs, including the Committee on the Shelterless, Petaluma People Services Center, the Petaluma Salvation Army Center and Christmas Cheer are working hard to keep up with the demand to feed the hungry, and need donations of food, money or volunteer time.

To provide holiday meals for those in need, Petaluma’s Committee on the Shelterless this week put out its annual call for frozen turkeys and hams, along with canned and dried goods. To help, you can reach COTS at 765-6530, or via cots-homeless.org.

The Petaluma Kitchen, which provides meals to homeless residents every day, is looking for volunteers and donations. If you can help, call them at 778-6380.

The Redwood Empire Food Bank helps thousands of Petaluma people in need every year. To make a donation, call them at 523-7900, or visit refb.org.

The Petaluma People Services Center operates a Meals on Wheels program for low income families and seniors, and can always use more volunteers and donations. Give them a call at 765-8482, or visit petalumapeople.org.

The Salvation Army will hold a one-day Christmas food drive at its offices at 721 S. McDowell Boulevard on Dec. 22. It is requesting turkeys, hams, stuffing, cranberries and other seasonal favorites to give nearly 300 low-income families a Christmas dinner. You can call 769-0716 to learn how to help.

On Monday, Petaluma’s Christmas Cheer will launch its annual food drive and is looking for canned food items to feed nearly 60 seniors on its registry. Frozen turkeys and chickens are also needed for 600 families that receive Christmas food boxes. Call 763-8368 to learn how you can help.

Petaluma has a longstanding tradition of showing kindness and generosity towards people in need. For many decades, local residents are known for donating, volunteering and pitching in to help their less fortunate neighbors.

Let’s keep that wonderful tradition alive into 2015 and beyond.