AUBURN, Calif. — September is Hunger Action Month, and more than 30,000 people in Placer County alone — including children and seniors — experience food insecurity. To raise awareness and address local need, the Placer Food Security Coalition is hosting a community food drive at the Gold Country Fairgrounds.
Please drop off non-perishable food items on the following dates at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, at the gate 2 entrance on Fairgate Rd. in Auburn.
- September 8 and 9 from 4-6 p.m.
- September 10 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- September from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Alternatively, you can also donate to a virtual food drive fund at www.placer.ca.gov/DonateFood. All donations will go to the Placer Food Bank.
For more information and a shopping list of the most needed items, click here for flyers in English, Spanish and Farsi. People who bring items from this list will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a prize.
“Some of our families, friends and neighbors have been forced to choose between having dinner on the table and other essential needs in their lives,” said Meghan Marshall, director of Placer County’s Public Health division. “There has been more demand for food assistance since the pandemic, including among working families who are living paycheck to paycheck.”
Key local resources for families who need food assistance include:
- Local food distribution sites and PantryToGo sites supported by the Placer Food Bank
- Signing up for CalFresh food benefits or WIC (the Women, Infants and Children program) if eligible
- Call 211 for additional resources and supports.
The Placer Food Security Coalition is a cross-sector team of advocates who work to ensure that every resident can access sufficient and nutritious food. The coalition is led by Placer County’s Public Health and Human Services divisions and the Health Education Council.