Irvine has partnered with Families Forward for an “Irvine Neighbors Helping Irvine Neighbors” food collection event this Saturday, March 28. 

According to the charitable organization, food assistance requests have increased 50 percent since the outbreak of COVID-19. 

The food drive, which begins at 9 a.m., will be accepting “no contact” donations, where volunteers will remove donated items from trunks. Participants are required to stay in their vehicles for their own safety and those of the volunteers — practicing social distancing at all times. 

Families Forward is most in need of the following items:

  • Cereal
  • Peanut butter
  • Canned chicken
  • Canned tuna
  • Pasta sauce
  • Dried pasta
  • Baby wipes

Donated items will be used to help those in need, furthering Families Forward’s goal to assist families that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, food, counseling, education and other support services.

“We do not just provide support; we supply the tools for families to once again become independent, productive residents of the community,” explained the organization. 

The food drive will be held at two locations — Irvine Civic Center (north parking lot next to the Child Care Center) and at the Orange County Great Park (Lot 2, Festival Lot) — from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 28. 

Now more than ever, we are all in need of support. If you would like to utilize Families Forward’s services, contact them at (949) 552-2727 or email them at [email protected].

To make a financial donation to Families Forward, visit their webpage here.

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