Giving, it seems, is often only a yearly occurrence, a single surge of goodwill propelled mostly by the holidays. Local food banks that are dry during the other nine months of the year suddenly see a swell in supply that correlates precisely with the giving season and disappears as soon as it’s over. But in these notoriously stingy times, those who can afford to spare some staples from their pantry should consider helping those in need—especially considering that food banks are suffering through an overall drop in supply and a marked increase in demand. Long Beach agencies, for example, are reporting a 60% rise in local needy families. To that end, all-around do-gooders We Love Long Beach have partnered with Food Finders for a pre-Thanksgiving food drive to benefit Long Beach’s hungry. The joint undertaking began October 19 and extends to November 20, with drop-off options located all over the city, including Belmont Shore, Bixby Knolls, Retro Row, the Broadway Corridor, CSULB and downtown. Suggested items include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, jellies, rice, beans, canned soup, pasta and other long-lasting foodstuffs. Of course, Thanksgiving doesn’t have to signal the end of our generosity; we can make it a year-long effort.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT WELOVELB.ORG OR FACEBOOK.COM/WELOVELB

Tags: charity, food drive, food finders, Long Beach, thanksgiving, we love long beach