Annual food drive works to benefit survivors of domestic violence

Lisa Lee stood outside for 12 hours Friday, collecting food and nonperishables that must tide her organization over for the next four to six months. The organization collected more than 27,000 pounds.

"We are lucky because we have such good volunteers that allow us to put this on. The food we raise here will support us for the next four to six months," Lee said.

Lee is the director of the Advocates to End Domestic Violence, which was participating in the 13th annual Share Your Holiday Food Drive in conjunction with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Carson residents stopped by the Albertsons in North Carson City to donate. There were also drop-off locations at RC Willey and the Hilton Hotel in Reno and the Carson Valley Inn in Minden.

In Minden, 30,000 pounds were gathered. It was the most ever collected at the annual food drive by both communities. It is the first year the drive was held at the North Carson Street Albertsons. In the past the drive was held at the Governor's Mansion on Mountain Street.

More than 150 volunteers helped unload, sort and stack the donations, including groups from Bordewich-Bray and Fremont elementary schools who treated the workers to Christmas carols.

The most popular items, according to office manager Terri Farnworth, are canned fruits and vegetables, but paper products and cleaning supplies are more scarce. Overall, Farnworth said, the donations were fairly balanced.

"We got some interesting things, we got some animal food and some weird gourmet stuff and we got a Hanukkah bag, where everything was kosher," Farnworth said.

Becky Tucker was one of those who cleaned out her cupboard for the food drive.

"This is the most worthy cause and it's one that is dear to my heart," she said.

While Tucker knew what she wanted to donate, Albertsons made it easier on shoppers unsure of the best donation to make.

"Albertsons is offering pre-packaged bags of $17 to $18 worth of groceries that is all the basic things we need and it only costs $10. They have been very helpful with the drive," Farnworth said.

The bags contain things like apple juice, macaroni and cheese, toasted O's cereal, spaghetti and sauce and canned vegetables. The drive also collected more than $1,000 in monetary donations.

"We have been doing this for more than 10 years and all the food that is donated goes directly to the shelter," Farnworth said.

n Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.