More than 900 families in need received food and gifts for the holidays from the Davis Street Family Resource Center , the Alameda County Fire Department and the local Rotary Club.  Volunteers loaded more than 900

baskets of food and 1500 bags of toys and gifts into families’ vehicles last week, assuring them of a complete holiday celebration.  Local elected officials and community leaders, including San Leandro’s mayor, Tony Santos,  joined Davis Street FRC staff and the firefighters to help distribute the food and toys to a diverse group of local families.

“We are seeing an increase in families seeking assistance, including families who in the past may have given food or toys who are now seeking our help,” stated Executive Director Rose Padilla Johnson. “Now is the time when we need to come together as a community and help each other get through these difficult times. Davis Street FRC could not do this without the help and donations of the Fire Department and the Rotary Club,” she adds.

Fewer food and toy donations have reduced the number of families the center can serve this year. Turkeys, food and cash donations continue to be the priorities for this season.  The center needs fresh or frozen turkeys, non-perishable and canned food.  Food items, other than turkeys, must be non-perishable.

Davis Street Family Resource Center is the only-multi-purpose center in central Alameda County that serves over 10,000 families each year.  Its mission is to help low income people in the Eden area and its surrounding communities improve their quality of life through short and long-term assistance.  Throughout the year, the center’s focus is the emergency food program, which helps thousands of low-income families and seniors. In addition to providing folks with a 5-7 day food package, they offer workshops on nutrition and menu planning on a shoestring budget. The center’s service area is San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Ashland and the surrounding communities.

To donate food, toys, gift certificates, financial support or to volunteer call the center at 510-347-4620 or visit www.davisstreet.org.