A Decade of Generosity: Senator McGuire’s 10th Annual Humboldt Holiday Food Drive Shatters All Records with Nearly 24 Tons of Food and More Than $63,000 for Food for People
Senator McGuire’s 10th annual Humboldt Holiday Food Drive
Press release from Senator McGuire:
Senator McGuire’s 10th annual Humboldt Holiday Food Drive made history yesterday by rallying the community for its biggest day of giving yet, delivering a monumental day of generosity for Food for People, Humboldt County’s food bank. The record-breaking event brought in 23.5 tons of food along with a WHOPPING $63,000 in financial donations, all headed directly to support hungry families across Humboldt County.
Now the largest Food Drive on the North Coast, the Food Drive is powered by a partnership between Senator McGuire, Food for People, KHUM Radio, North Coast News, and six local high schools: Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, McKinleyville, and St. Bernard’s.
This year, Food for People faced the biggest challenge yet in the organization’s 50-year history with massive federal funding cuts to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, stripping away food assistance from 5.5 million needy Californians each year.
Going into the holidays with this year’s historic demand, local businesses and the Humboldt community majorly stepped up the generosity to support Food for People’s 26 food pantries, which serve an average of 21,000 residents every month. In 2024, the organization distributed 2.8 million pounds of food to low-income residents; of those served, 25% are children and 25% are seniors.
“Ten years strong and Humboldt is still showing the world that the North Coast is the most generous place on earth. This year has been incredibly tough for so many families, and the need has truly never been greater. Thousands of students, donors, and neighbors stepped up to make sure no one goes hungry this holiday season,” said Senator McGuire. “This year’s food drive smashed all records, and it didn’t happen by accident—it happened because Humboldt shows up, year after year, for families who need it most.”
Taking home the Golden Can Award this year was, McKinleyville High School once again collected the most food this year with an incredible 17,291 pounds, while Fortuna High School brought in the most financial contributions with $3,340 collected for Food for People. Both schools will receive the coveted Golden Can Award and a $750 check from Senator McGuire for their efforts to be used toward their next school party.
“We are blown away by the generosity last night! Our community is facing a truly unprecedented need this year and the giving we saw yesterday was nothing short of inspiring,” said Carly Robbins, Executive Director of Food for People. “For ten incredible years, Sen. McGuire has brought thousands of people together to help us feed families in need. We’re so thankful for Senator McGuire, for our dedicated high school partners, and for every person who donated food or funds. This outpouring of support means our warehouse will stay stocked for months ahead.”
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A remarkable accomplishment!
Don’t vote for McGuire, but give food to the hungry, if you are so inclined…
And why not vote for Senator McGuire? I love the pinched, squinty, gritted teeth compliment you offered. Humor is important these days. For years McGuire has led competition among schools to get food for the needy. Imagine young people competing to feed the poor. Fits pretty well with most major religions and atheists alike. Again this year Senator McGuire used his rhetorical and leadership skills in the Humboldt Library Foundation Annual Gala which was very successful. A famous ethicist once suggested: By their fruits you will know them. I like McGuire. What don’t you like? Ever-restrictive gun laws? Cannabis reform? I am open to criticisms.
I suspect it’s because McGuire’s on the blue team, not the red team. I could be wrong…
And now that the Epstein photos and files are coming out we realize some of the players on the national stage wouldn’t be able to run for dog catcher not too long ago. Remember that? McGuire has my respect as a human.
Coming out….for whom? Anybody with reasonable internet sleuthing skills has been able to get at them for a decade now. Not sure who they’re trying to fool with all this drama.
I think he does more to represent our area than his cohort, Mr. H.
Because he should be representing us with opportunity that creates a tax base so that they can feed themselves, not making people have to ask for food. Name something that has been accomplished in creating good respectful employment and legislation that would lower the cost of living in California. This type of so called effort is a little embarrassing.
Yes. And he should be representing us with opportunity that directly leads us to a chicken in every pot!
That mindset has not worked. Remember LBJ 1964 passed the War On Poverty legislation? 1964 was a long time ago!!! It was supposed to do away with food insecurity. “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”