Social service agencies say long-term unemployment remains a problem in Silicon Valley, and that's why you continue to see demand for food programs.
Second Harvest Food Bank has set a goal to raise $12.4 million and to collect 2 million pounds of food over the next three months. It helps to feed a quarter-million people every month in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
These are executives from Cisco, who are pitching in sweat labor for the 10th year in a row, to box up fresh produce and non-perishable food items. Second Harvest partners with 300 agencies that in turn distribute the food at 740 locations across the two counties.
Other Silicon Valley companies, such as EMC and Barracuda Networks, along with the San Francisco 49ers, helped to kick off the campaign.
"Though the problem is large, we believe it's solvable, and working together we can insure that anyone who needs a meal can actually get one," Second Harvest food Bank CEO Kathy Jackson said.
Donation barrels will be set up at offices and businesses. The faces are real. Bella and Chris from San Jose received food assistance from Second Harvest when their parents lost their jobs.
It's usually large, big-name companies that often are leaders in food drives like this, but small community groups and schools also play a big role in making sure that no one goes hungry.
