The College of the Canyons Basic Needs Center, or BaNC, and the Rotary Club of the Santa Clarita Valley have partnered to host a Thanksgiving holiday food drive benefiting COC students.
The drive-thru collection event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the main entrance to the Valencia campus.
Event organizers are asking potential donors to consider the following items:
- Instant mashed potatoes.
- Stuffing.
- Canned yams.
- Canned cranberry.
- Canned peas, green beans, corn (low-salt preferred).
- Hearty and regular soups (low-salt preferred).
- Apple, cranberry, grape and other 100% fruit juices (32 oz.).
- Coffee and regular tea bags.
- Mini-marshmallows and nuts.
- Salad dressings.
- Muffin and dinner roll mix.
- Brownie and cake mix, icing.
- Canned pumpkin.
- Pudding and Jell-O.
Perishable items and expired food products cannot be accepted.
Masked volunteers will be available to remove donations directly from vehicles in a contactless manner.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with (the) Rotary Club of the SCV and our community members to provide for our students and their families,” said Michel Joslin, associate vice president of student services at COC. “It’s our hope that this food drive will allow our students in need to enjoy the holiday with the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.”
Founded more than 50 years ago, the Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley and its members have continued their work to bridge cultures and continents, to champion peace, cure disease and fight poverty, using recently acquired grant money to do just that, with a total of $4,000 being given to the BaNC.
“This partnership and food drive are in keeping with the focused objectives we have for our community, which include peace, tranquility, a brotherhood of man and woman, freedom from hunger, oppression and sickness, and the freedom to choose our own destinies,” said Glenn Terry, president of Rotary Club of SCV.
For Terry, who said he’s personally experienced hardships and tough times, he knows how important these donations can be for students.
“I think it’s important that the community pulls together to help lift each other up,” Terry added. “We never know when, if ever, one might find themselves in that position to need to be helped … so I think helping each other is just an essential part of being a human being, especially now when the weather’s changing, food is going to be scarce and goods become a little harder to get.”
The BaNC was established to better meet the needs of housing- and food-insecure students. It provides students who are currently enrolled with free food, clothing, personal hygiene items, shower kits, on-site microwave access, and other specialty items. In addition, the BaNC offers students information about area housing options and social services, such as CalFRESH and MediCal sign-up assistance.
The BaNC also accepts donations of non-perishable, individualized items that are sold in bulk on an ongoing basis, as well as cash donations through the COC Foundation.
The food drive is set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3mRyEuS.
