Bob Harlan receives cash and gift cards from Yuba City Grocery Outlet owners Jeremy and Amy Delay. Photo courtesy of YSC United Way

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Yuba-Sutter Food Bank and some 20 other food pantries which provide for low-income families, have seen a record demand for food this year. And the summertime slump in cash and product donations is always marked. So, each year, the Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way holds the “Cash for Food Drive” in association with the Yuba City Grocery Outlet store.

This year’s campaign raised $15,530, of which $10,815 came from Grocery Outlet’s annual “Freedom from Hunger” promotion. 

“This amount is highly gratifying but is only a drop in the bucket when it comes to providing funds to feed thousands of people truly in need during these difficult economic times,” said Bob Harlan, Executive Director of Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way.

“The rising costs of food, rent, utilities and other daily needs have a record number of families struggling to make ends meet each month,” Harlan said.

YSC United Way is active in providing funding for food. The annual Turkey Drive each November in association with Results Radio has garnered donations to feed about 6000 people with holiday meals. In addition, for 26 years, YSC United Way has served as the local coordinator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Emergency Food and Shelter Program,” which this year for food costs at $103,324 with $308,263 in the past four years.

Organizations receiving funds from the “Cash for Food Drive” this year included: Catholic Ladies Relief Society; Christian Assistance Network; Crossroads Community Church; First Presbyterian Church of Marysville; Foothill Food Pantry; Marysville First United Methodist Church; Ministerial Association of Colusa County; The Salvation Army Yuba Sutter Corps; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; St. John’s Episcopal Church; St. Vincent de Paul; and Yuba-Sutter Food Bank.