La Sierra students team up to aid food bank

The inland region is tied for fourth place in a food hardship ranking of the nation's largest metropolitan statistical areas, according to a recent report from the Food Research and Action Center.

The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan statistical area in 2010-2011 ranked fourth alongside Greensboro-High Point, N.C. for numbers of respondents in a Gallup-Healthways poll who answered “yes” to the question, “have there been times in the past 12 months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?”

The “Food Hardship in America 2011” report, released in February, tracks food needs nationwide in 2011, by state in 2011, by the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas in 2010-2011, and by congressional districts in 2010-2011.

On April 29, community members can join in the hunger alleviation effort and help better the region's ranking by participating in a 5Can 5K family run/walk organized by student groups at La Sierra University. Registration fees are five cans of food or a minimum $10 donation with all proceeds benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank in Riverside. The run will begin at the Shops at Riverwalk, 4290 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, 92515. The first wave will start at 7:30 a.m. and a second wave will start at 8 a.m. for families and runners with strollers. Pre-registration is available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/5Can5K, or by emailing salsu.cabl@lasierra.edu. Late registration will be available at 6 a.m. on race day.

The Student Association of La Sierra University and the university's Students In Free Enterprise team are presenting the event which will include a health fair at the Shops at Riverwalk center. The fair will offer a jumper for children, music, a blood drive and other activities.

Second Harvest Food Bank, a network member of Feeding America, distributes more than 25 million pounds of food each year to hungry families and individuals in the Inland Empire. Donations from food manufacturers, produce growers and food retailers through California and adjacent states support the bank's distribution program.

The bank feeds more than 400,000 people each month through 400 or more local nonprofits which rely on the organization for their food distribution programs. Second Harvest's annual operating budget of $1.7 million is underwritten by grants, community support, federal contract support for USDA Commodities distribution, community fundraisers, the United Way and corporate donor support.

“To a parent trying to feed [his or] her family, every single can of food is essential,” said the bank's Director of Development and Marketing Tracylyn Sharrit. “Second Harvest requires as much support as possible.”

PR Contact: Larry Becker

Executive Director of University Relations

La Sierra University

Riverside, California

951.785.2460 (voice)