Ahead of the winter holidays, many local nonprofit organizations, elected leaders and food pantries are hosting distributions to ensure kids have a gift this season along with food on the table.
This Saturday, Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee, in partnership with Community Action Partnership OC, ICNA Relief and United Across Borders, will hold a holiday toy distribution at Loara High School in Anaheim from 9 a.m to 1 p.m.
The distribution will be on a first come first serve basis and a child must be present to receive a toy.
Iman Halwani, the manager for ICNA Relief’s food pantry, said this year the pantry has been very busy following a government shutdown that temporarily interrupted CalFresh benefits
“We are receiving a huge amount of calls. People need food, especially when it’s cut off and after ICE activities people are afraid to go out, afraid to apply for CalFresh,” she said.
“We are still receiving a huge increase in families who are asking for food.”
Chaffee’s distribution comes about a month after he hosted a Thanksgiving food distribution in November in Fullerton where over 1,100 cars pulled up to get produce and $25 gift cards.
[Read: Meet Some of The Volunteers Helping Feed Orange County Families]
In Santa Ana, the Seva Collective Food Pantry will also hold a distribution this Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Villa Fundamental Intermediate school next to the Santa Ana Unified School District office to give out food, toys, clothes, blankets, books and gifts.
“We’re hoping to do a small part to help alleviate some of the struggle that people are having this year,” said Bandana Singh, the head of the pantry, in a phone interview earlier this month.
Singh also said the need for food has shot up again particularly in the later part of this year.
“We did see our numbers go up. So first there were the ICE raids and people weren’t going to grocery stores and other places. Then with the CalFresh issue people were coming more also, so the need was definitely higher than it has been except for COVID times,” she said.
Singh said heading into next year they expect a higher need as they struggle to source food.
“The tricky part is that there’s also been a scarcity in actually food procurement on our end,” she said. “But we’ve, knock on wood, been fine, and we hope to continue to be able to serve as many families as possible in the new year.”
On Saturday, Families Together of Orange County will hold their 20th Christmas Together event to give out 30,000 toys at the Anaheim Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. According to a news release, more than 50,000 people are expected to show up.
According to the website, registration for the event has closed.
On Sunday, Anaheim City Councilman Carlos Leon, in partnership with the nonprofit We Give Thanks and Casa Garcia, is hosting a toy distribution at Servite High School from 2 – 4 p.m.
On Monday, Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez and Santa Ana Unified School Board Member Valerie Magdaleno will host a toy giveaway from 3-5 p.m. at Valley High School.
The giveaway is in partnership with the school district’s Family and Community Engagement team and United Across Borders.
Last weekend, CalOptima held a holiday toy, diaper and food distribution as well as a health resource fair at their offices in Orange.
Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua and Council members David Penaloza and Phil Bacerra also held a toy drive and holiday food drive-thru distribution this past weekend as well.
Share Ourselves, a community health center, also hosted their 56th annual adopt a family gift distribution this month to help families in need during the holidays get a personalized wishlist of toys and gifts.
Christy Ward, CEO of Share Ourselves, said in a news release that the decades-long tradition has helped bring the community together.
“At a time when so many families are facing hardship, this program brings light, dignity, and joy into homes across Orange County,” Ward said in a Dec. 3 news release.
“We’re deeply inspired by every donor and volunteer who helps make the holiday season brighter for our neighbors.”
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.