We all know that hunger takes no holidays. The needs of our area’s food banks have been growing relentlessly over the past few years. In the heady days of Silicon Valley’s exponential growth, area employers and employees struggled to meet the demand, but in most cases we were, as a community, able to keep up- if only barely. This year is different. More of us are out of work or underemployed, more companies are doing layoffs, and the needy are more so.

In August 2008, unemployment in Santa Clara County hovered around 6.5%; currently Santa Clara County’s unemployment is at a record 11.9% (source www.bls.gov) and in neighboring San Benito County, which is more agricultural, it is at 13.8%. Underemployment of skilled workers, part-time and temporary jobs, and layoffs bring hard-working individuals and families to the food banks. At no time of year does this strike home more poignantly than at Thanksgiving and Christmas. On the radio this morning, just as the rain started to fall during my drive to my office in Willow Glen, there was an announcement from Sacred Heart Community Services ( www.shcstheheart.org/donations), appealing for donations of food and money. Did you know just $18 will provide turkeys for two families? With less than a week to go before Thanksgiving, less than 200 turkeys were on hand. The projected need is for thousands. Follow the link to donate.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County (www.2ndharvest.net) also welcomes your generosity. To donate, visit our website, www.AlteraSV.com and click on the Second Harvest logo.

Food donation barrels are also in each of our offices: Willow Glen, Silver Creek, and Morgan Hill. Stop by or give us a call and we will pick up your canned foods donation.

In addition, The United Way of Santa Clara County has a “help central” at www.search.211.SCC.org. There you will find information on the needs and special requests of many of our valley’s non-profits.

As children, most of us (myself included!), focused on what we were going to get during the holidays; as adults, it never hurts to be reminded that it is in giving that we get.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco