The 8th year of Season of Hope food and toy drive is coming to an end but there's still time to help a local family in need.
Throughout the holiday season, KSBY has partnered with the San Luis Obispo Food Bank, Salvation Army, and several local businesses to bring food, toys and funds to people who need a little extra help putting gifts under the tree and dinner on the table.
"This is sort of direct help people can give -- offerings of food to people who don't have it in their own home," SLO Food Bank CEO Kevin Drabinski said.
The annual drive helps thousands of people and Drabinski said about 15,000 pounds of food was collected during this year's Season of Hope .
"Every donation of food or money goes directly into programs that serve 30,000 people per month all across our county," Drabinski said.
"People need help, maybe with utility bills or rental and we can help them with money earned during the Christmas season," Salvation Army Captain Elaine Mansoor said.
And the support is more than just donations. Thousands of volunteers, more than 3,700 at the SLO Food Bank alone, have been stepping up to help.
Drabinski said it's all about neighbor helping neighbor.
He recalls one recipient of financial assistance: a family who had to take time off work to care for their young son after his surgery.
"They'll rebound and get back on their feet eventually but this community provides the safety net and pulls strongly, taut on that safety net so that when people come in and out of need, we are there to cover the basic need they have of putting food in their homes," Drabinski said.
The Season of Hope donation drive ends Friday.
