Attacking hunger through donations

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Local real estate brokers will try to take a big bite

out of hunger by leading an effort to collect 1 million pounds of food

next month.

More than 1,500 local agents will call upon residents to do their part to

alleviate hunger by dropping off nonperishable goods at collection sites

throughout the city, said Dean Zitko, president of the realty company

Harbour Homes. The city has designated May as Realtors Attack Hunger

month.

“We want to give something back to the community,” Zitko said.

The goods will be shipped to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange

County, which works with 300 charities to help nourish people who can’t

afford a meal, said Ninnette Selsted, the bank’s resource manager.

No city has ever managed to collect so much food in so little time, she

said.

“It’s never been done anywhere in the United States,” she said.

The city is lending its support by promoting the campaign, Mayor Dave

Garofalo said.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Third World is not the only place

where people go to bed hungry, he said.

“Believe it or not, these people exist in Huntington Beach, California,”

Garofalo said.

In the first three months of the year, the food bank helped to feed 8,672

people in the city, Selsted said.

Hunger does not discriminate based on age, race or gender, she said.

“There’s no face to it,” Selsted said.

Individuals interested in doing their part should donate protein-rich,

nonperishable food in cans -- not glass containers -- she said. Pasta,

tuna, chicken and beef are preferred, she said. All cans must have labels

showing the ingredients in case people have allergies.

If people don’t have extra cans around the home, they could donate money.

Every dollar contribution provides 30 meals, Selsted said.

Garofalo is confident that, with the city’s support, the real estate

agents will succeed.

“I am absolutely positive that between cash and food donations, we will

reach our goal of 1 million pounds,” he said.

At the end of May, there will be a celebration in honor of the

community’s hard work at the Waterfront Hilton. The May 29 extravaganza

will be hosted by Peter Marshall.

For more information about the food drive, including the location of

collection sites, call the food bank at 771-1343.