Rotary Club OMI ("Oh, My!") Food Drive To Combat Local Hunger

Top Quote On 1 july 2012, two Rotary Clubs in the San Fernando Valley will team up with Valley Food Bank, with the generosity of Gelson's for allowing us to set up in front of their Sherman Oaks and North Hollywood stores, for an inaugural OMI ("Oh, My!") Food Drive. Shoppers on the way in will be asked to buy just One More Item (OMI) and leave it with the Rotary volunteers on the way out. End Quote
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) June 26, 2012 - Sherman Oaks and Valley Village, California-The Rotary E-Club of The Greater San Fernando Valley and the Rotary Club of North Hollywood will team up with Valley Food Bank for the inaugural Rotary OMI ("Oh, My!") Food Drive on Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the Gelson's Market locations in Sherman Oaks (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Van Nuys Blvd. just south of 101)) and Valley Village (11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., corner of Laurel Canyon and Riverside).

    Shoppers will be asked to purchase just One More Item (OMI) of non-perishable food, and drop it off with the Rotarians on the way out. Project Chair Yoko Matsui said, "Our goal is to educate the community about the hunger problem right here in the Valley, while providing people with a convenient and tangible way to help while they're shopping there already. We are grateful to Gelson's for allowing us to be there."

    While generous neighbors donate to food banks around the holidays and at special times such as the Letter Carriers' Association's Stamp Out Hunger drive, an inventory gap widens during summer months. "When the kids are out of school," explains Will Hernandez, Director of Valley Food Bank, "they lose access to any school-based meal programs. We're grateful to our year-round supporters, but we need good public outreach to help meet the food insecurity problems during the off-peak donation months."

    Residents unable to shop at either Gelson's location on Sunday, July 1, are asked to make a donation to Valley Food Bank or the food bank of their choice.

    ABOUT ROTARY: Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century. For more information, visit rotary.org. For more information about the Rotary E-Club of The Greater San Fernando Valley, visit www.rotaryeclubgreatersfv.org; if you are in North Hollywood, we will connect you with Rotary Club of North Hollywood.

    ABOUT VALLEY FOOD BANK: Established in 2001, the Valley Food Bank first began operations in North Hollywood at a facility shared with the organization's thrift store and San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission operations. With the steady growth of all three programs and an increasing demand for food assistance, the Valley Food Bank relocated its operations and warehouse in 2009 to larger facility located in Pacoima, California. Valley Food Bank's Fighting Hunger - Feeding Hope program specifically addresses hunger and food insecurity by distributing quality, nutritious food to multiple food pantries strategically located in San Fernando Valley communities with the greatest need.

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