Oakmont residents are once again invited to take part in the national “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive” on Saturday, May 9, with proceeds benefiting the local Redwood Empire Food Bank. This year’s collection site will be set up at the Berger parking lot, with volunteers on hand from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The food drive has run for decades, born from a simple recognition that too many families lack the means to put healthy food on the table. What makes the drive especially impactful is that food collected locally stays local, supporting summer school programs and food distribution events visible throughout Sonoma County, from parks and senior centers to school parking lots.
The timing of the drive is no accident. May is historically one of the leanest months for food banks nationwide, as the surge of holiday-season donations has long since dried up. Many food banks report that the Stamp Out Hunger drive is what allows them to keep their shelves stocked through the summer and into fall, bridging the gap until donors return to giving at the end of the year.
Donations of non-perishable food items are welcome, though glass containers should be avoided, as breakage in transit often renders large quantities of food unusable. For those who prefer to give financially, checks made out to the Redwood Empire Food Bank can be handed directly to volunteers at the site and will be delivered to the food bank.