Calif. Megachurch Looks to Donate 32,500 Pounds of Food in 1 Month
A California megachurch is hoping to gather 16 tons of food during the month of May for its annual drive to benefit a local food bank.
The Rock Church of San Diego, with an attendance exceeding 12,000, has pledged to donate 32,500 pounds of food to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church, told The Christian Post that this was the third year that his church was involved in the food drive.
"This initiative is part of the Rock's community outreach campaign, bringing people together to address human needs and transform lives in San Diego and the world," said McPherson.
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"The need is great. An estimated 14.8 percent of residents in San Diego County live in poverty. Donations are much lower over the summer months."
When Rock Church participated in the food drive in 2010 and 2011, they were able to collect 21,000 pounds of food for the needy. The larger goal for this year would come out to 25,000 meals.
"In 2008, the SD Food Bank provided food for 200,000 people per month. This year, the need has almost doubled," said McPherson.
"Summer is always a time of need because most families donate during Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons … Donations are much lower over the summer months."
To help spread awareness, the Rock Church has issued statements to media and public service announcements. It is accepting donations for the San Diego Food Bank both online and offline.
"Many parents will struggle to feed their children three meals a day when they are out of school and no longer receiving free school breakfast and lunch," said J. Scofield Hage, SEO of the Food Bank, in a statement.
"Often struggling families turn to the Food Bank in the summer for help which means the Rock's food drive will help us prepare for this annual spike in demand."
Regarding online donations, Rock Church's webpage is laid out with a list of various food items that would go to the Food Bank. Online donors can click on the items, selecting which ones they will send money to purchase for the drive. Prices are listed along with the items. Rock Church established the webpage via Aidmatrix & Accenture, a website focused on providing donations to food drives across the country.
"Aidmatrix & Accenture encourage you to help the needy by donating through our Virtual Aid Drive. Through this internet-based solution, you will be able to make monetary donations to your favorite food bank so that they can purchase the exact items they need," reads the webpage.
