A List of local food drives and free meals on the Central Coast
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV)- There are plenty of local organizations helping out families that are in need as the holidays are around the corner
Here is a list of food drives and where you can receive free meals or meal packs. This list will be updated throughout the holiday season.
Monterey County
Food Bank of Monterey County- The Food Bank will offer Thanksgiving Distributions throughout the Central Coast. Here is a list of where you can get food kits.
Monday, Nov. 21- Visit the Our Lady of the Assumption Church on 100 Pajaro Street in Pajaro. They will be handing out pozole kits from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 22- The Food Bank will be at four locations throughout Monterey County.
Visit the Soledad Police Department on 236 Main Street from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers will be handing out pozole kits.
If you are in Castroville, head over to Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church as volunteers will pass out pozole kits as well. That time will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Volunteers will also pass pozole kits out in Greenfield. You can get the pozole kits at the Greenfield Memorial Building at 615 El Camino Real. That will take place from 10 to 11 a.m.
If you live in the City of King, you can also get a holiday food kit at St John the Baptist Catholic Church on 504 North 3rd Street. That will happen from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 23- Volunteers in Salinas will be handing out pozole kits at 250 North Madeira Avenue from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Later in the day, you can go to the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church to pick up a pozole kit from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Kiwanis Club of Monterey, Food Bank for Monterey County, and City of Monterey
Recreation Division will be offering a drive-thru and walk-up Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Each meal kit will include all of the fixings to prepare your own traditional Thanksgiving meal for a family of 4 or 6-8 people.
You have to make a reservation or appointment to pick up your meal kit between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey. For more information, click here.
Thursday Nov. 24- American Legion Post 31 will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 14 W Laurel Dr, Salinas, CA.
People can also drive thru or pickup the meals on Thanksgiving Day. The Post 31 members and volunteers will serve an estimated 500 meals.
The meal will consists of Turkey, ham plus all the side dishes imaginable. There will also be dessert on hand that includes pumpkin pie. The meals will be served from the 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. timeframe or until meals have run out.
They are also looking for volunteers to help and serve meals for both shifts. Students looking for community service hours can volunteer at the event. There will be two shifts for volunteers; first shift will be from 9:30-1200pm and a second shift from 12:00-3:00pm.
Post 31 members say that they are also accepting monetary donations. For more information, call the American Post Legion 31 at (831) 449-2204.
Ongoing Food Drives
Maya Cinemas will be giving free movie passes for guests who donate $10 to a local food bank. Guests can donate until Dec. 15 at the Maya Cinemas on 153 Main Street in Salinas.
The movie pass will be eligible for movies released from New Year's Day until April 30, 2023.
Santa Cruz County
The Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is doing its annual Holiday Food and Fund Drive 2022. All the funds raised will go to provide food to distribute at partner agency locations throughout the county. To donate money, visit here.
They will also have a drive-thru food distribution center at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. The center will be open on Monday, Nov. 21, Monday, Dec. 5 and Monday, Dec. 19. The food bank will be there distributing food kits from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
San Benito County
The Community Food Bank of San Benito will have 12 days of Giving from Dec. 1 thru Dec. 12. They will partner with the United Way of San Benito County and Intero Foundation. Click here for more information.
