Stacks of baskets, boxes and bags brimming with canned goods lined the walls and filled the back room of the Cross Cultural Center after its second annual Holiday Gift Basket Drive.The food drive solicited gift baskets containing several non-perishable food items that would be donated to needy students, said Josh Acevedo, a student intern who helped organize the event.
Since last year’s drive did not meet its expectations, the Cross Cultural Center anticipated receiving about 50 baskets this year. Instead, it received over 100 baskets chock-full of everything a family would need to prepare balanced meals for about a week, according Acevedo and Carrie Afuso, coordinator of the Cross Cultural Center.
“I’m truly moved by everyone’s generosity. To have this many baskets is incredible. It goes to show that people get it: times are hard,” Afuso said as she navigated her way through the labyrinth of donated goods.
Along with basic items like tuna, canned fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter, pasta and sauce, some clubs and divisions also donated household necessities like toothbrushes, cleaning supplies and blankets, along with grocery store gift cards for perishables such as meat, eggs or milk.
“Everything goes directly to PCC students who were recommended by Extended Opportunity Programs and Services counselors and other services on campus. A lot of clubs really went all out. We might have more baskets than names,” Acevedo said.
Smiling, he added, “Thank you probably still isn’t enough. People either doubled what we asked for or added extra non-perishable items like popcorn.”
Joseph Garcia, a member of PCC’s improv comedy troupe Grizzled Chuck, one of many clubs that participated in the food drive, said, “A couple members from Grizzled Chuck walked to a local grocery store, bought all the stuff on the list and carried it all back to school,” said Garcia.
“We take for granted the restaurants we get to eat in or the food that we have at home. We wanted to show that we care because there are a lot of needy people out there.
The amount of food the Cross-Cultural Center received more than doubled from last year. (Louis C. Cheung)
- EDITORIAL: Apologize about the real problem - April 23, 2014
- STATEMENT: District apologizes to Oscar winning alum - April 21, 2014
- EDITORIAL: The Forgotten Students - March 26, 2014
