Help for the holidays

"We are so grateful for the support we have received from the community so far, but we really need to collect more cash and food donations if we are going to meet the rising need,” said Kathy Jackson, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. "The number of people we are serving has increased nearly 50 percent since the recession started. We raise about half our annual revenues during the holidays, so the support we get now will help us feed hungry people all year long.”

Cash donations can be given online at www.SHFB.org or by calling (866) 234-3663. Second Harvest has extended its hours at its Curtner Avenue dock in San Jose and its Bing Street dock in San Carlos to make donating easier.

Both docks are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 24. For more information visit www.SHFB.org.

Food can also be donated at one of the many barrels located throughout the community, including those at Safeway stores where they are selling $10 pre-packed bags filled with the most-needed food items, which can easily be placed in the barrels.