San Jose charity kicks off holiday food box giveaway

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Sacred Heart Community Service started giving away their holiday food boxes Monday to help feed thousands of families in need.

At least 4,200 families will receive a turkey and all the side dishes for a Thanksgiving meal.

"What's really cool is it doesn't stop. In December, we're going to distribute a couple thousand boxes as well as toys for the community. It's really, really good to come together in a time of hardship and having something bloom for it," said Efrain Segundo, Sacred Heart Community Service.

Sacred Heart says their clients struggle with high housing costs in Silicon Valley and added that they like to provide these holiday meals to free up cash that families can use for other necessities.

"That extra expense that you'd put towards a dinner like this, for food like this, can go toward maybe paying a bill, paying your rent, paying your light bill, your car note, insurance, stuff like that, so organizations like this come through handy during rough times," San Jose resident Michael Casey said.

A young 10-year-old girl named Annika Norquist jumped at the chance to volunteer with her grandma and aunt. "I come whenever I have school off," Norquist said.

She's one of about 400 volunteers who help out during the holidays.

"I feel really good whenever I do something good, just because I'm helping people," Norquist said.

Donors are also vital to Sacred Heart's mission, and they still need several thousand more turkeys to fill the need.

For many donors, giving turkeys has become a holiday tradition. "So, about three years ago we created a Facebook page and people make donations and every year they say, 'hey, when are we doing the Thanksgiving donations.' So, it's kind of become a big thing," Morgan Hill resident Sondra Larkins said

The giveaway will last through Wednesday.

They still need about 4,800 turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you would like to donate, click here.