LAKE COUNTY >> On a rainy Saturday, the Stuff-A-Bus food drive managed to collect more than 4,200 pounds of food, which was distributed to about 20 food organizations over the weekend, while the volunteer fair held in the afternoon at Marymount California University, Lakeside drew in about 70 people looking for volunteer opportunities with 24 organizations that set up tables at the event.
The food drive and volunteer fair were Lake County”s contribution to the national Make A Difference Day spearheaded by USA Weekend Magazine that seeks to improve the lives of others through community service.
On Saturday, Lake Transit buses parked at Grocery Outlet locations in Lakeport and Clearlake to collect donations from shoppers, totaling 1,794 pounds of food. Additionally, during the last month, food bins placed at various organizations and businesses throughout the county collected nonperishable food items, totaling 2,479 pounds. For the third year in a row, Konocti Christian Academy collected the most food with 885 pounds.
Volunteers for the drive included four NCO volunteers, nine Kelseyville High School Interact students, five Upward Bound participants, one U.S. Forestry volunteer, seven Hunger Task Force volunteers and a surprise visit from two, out-of-county AmeriCorps volunteers, who found out about the event on the Make a Difference Day website. The volunteers offered a total of 121 hours of service to the food drive.
Meanwhile, Lake Transit accepted food donations in lieu of fair throughout Saturday.
The Stuff-A-Bus food drive is in its 15th year and was organized by North Coast Opportunities (NCO), the Hunger Task Force and Lake Transit.
“It was such a positive day,” Tammy Alakszay, the community action coordinator of NCO, said. “From start to finish both the food drive and volunteer fair ran smoothly and there was a lot of good energy. There are so many families that are going to be fed as a result of this and that”s so exciting.”
NCO and the Hunger Task Force are currently scheduling another volunteer fair to be held at Yuba College, Clearlake for the spring, Alakszay said.
