BAKERSFIELD, CA- Be sure to come by the KGET studios this Wednesday for the annual KGET holiday food drive. We will be collecting food and cans all day for the Community Action Partnership of Kern food bank.
The food bank serves families like the Johnsons, who used to volunteer at one of the locations that the food bank serves but when times got hard they understood personally just how much the items at the food bank are really needed.
"I had the basic, the main course of the meal, but I didn't have anything to go with it," said Joe Johnson. "The rice, the beans, can goods, the vegetables, and that made a difference when I could go and get that bag of food and put it together and make a good meal."
Joe and his wife Trina are now on a fixed income, and with six kids and eight grandkids, the food they've received from the food bank has saved them at least $50 dollars a month.
"If you're not getting it from the food bank and you don't have the resources, you go without. And no one should have to go without," said Johnson.
But many families are just like them do.
Even though Kern ranked number two among all California counties in agricultural production back in 2012, Kern county ranks 53rd out of 58 as the highest need of food insecurity families that there is according to the CAPK food bank.
Donations to the food bank on Wednesday can help, as they serve over 276,000 people a year by providing food to 105 different churches, food pantries and other locations across Kern county.
"There's the need throughout the whole year. I just think as individuals we become more conscious of that need during the holidays because we think about Thanksgiving and giving and we think about Christmas and giving and receiving," said Ken White, CAPK Food Bank Manager.
The food bank hopes that Wednesday's drive will help provide more families like the Johnsons more complete meals.
"The parents for whatever reason may have fell short on their groceries or what have you, but the kids shouldn't have to suffer because there are people in this community that can really step forward and help out," said Johnson.
Food and monetary donations will be collected Wednesday right outside our studios on the corner of 22nd and M streets from 5AM to 7PM. Any food items are accepted as there will be a refrigerated truck on site.
You can also donate money online at http://www.capk.org/food
Last year the food bank collected 10,000 pounds of food. This year's goal is at least 14,000 pounds.
The food bank serves families like the Johnsons, who used to volunteer at one of the locations that the food bank serves but when times got hard they understood personally just how much the items at the food bank are really needed.
"I had the basic, the main course of the meal, but I didn't have anything to go with it," said Joe Johnson. "The rice, the beans, can goods, the vegetables, and that made a difference when I could go and get that bag of food and put it together and make a good meal."
Joe and his wife Trina are now on a fixed income, and with six kids and eight grandkids, the food they've received from the food bank has saved them at least $50 dollars a month.
"If you're not getting it from the food bank and you don't have the resources, you go without. And no one should have to go without," said Johnson.
But many families are just like them do.
Even though Kern ranked number two among all California counties in agricultural production back in 2012, Kern county ranks 53rd out of 58 as the highest need of food insecurity families that there is according to the CAPK food bank.
Donations to the food bank on Wednesday can help, as they serve over 276,000 people a year by providing food to 105 different churches, food pantries and other locations across Kern county.
"There's the need throughout the whole year. I just think as individuals we become more conscious of that need during the holidays because we think about Thanksgiving and giving and we think about Christmas and giving and receiving," said Ken White, CAPK Food Bank Manager.
The food bank hopes that Wednesday's drive will help provide more families like the Johnsons more complete meals.
"The parents for whatever reason may have fell short on their groceries or what have you, but the kids shouldn't have to suffer because there are people in this community that can really step forward and help out," said Johnson.
Food and monetary donations will be collected Wednesday right outside our studios on the corner of 22nd and M streets from 5AM to 7PM. Any food items are accepted as there will be a refrigerated truck on site.
You can also donate money online at http://www.capk.org/food
Last year the food bank collected 10,000 pounds of food. This year's goal is at least 14,000 pounds.