Rotary Looks to Serve 1 Million Meals

All day Nov. 2 and throughout the weekend, Nicole Felix stood outside Stater Bros. in Grand Terrace asking people to help her in the endeavor to produce 1 million meals to feed those locally in need. Felix, president of the Colton Rotary Club, and Colton Rotary Club member Ladd Seekins collected both monetary and non-perishable food item donations throughout the weekend, which they then donated to two local community organizations dedicated to helping those in need as part of the Million Meals campaign, in which Rotary clubs throughout District 5330 participated. Over three days, the Colton Rotary Club was able to raise $742 and 960 pounds of food. Donations were split up and donated to Riverside's Second Harvest and Colton's Seeds of Hope Foundation. The Million Meals campaign began last year and sets out to provide 1 million meals to residents in need. Felix explained that during last year's campaign, the Colton Rotary Club donated money to the cause but this year decided to actively seek donations. Participating shoppers at the Grand Terrace Stater Bros. were provided with a list of the most needed non-perishable items, like cereals, canned vegetables, fruit, meats, peanut butter and boxed stuffings and other items, explained Felix. "We very much appreciated all food donations but we also explained to shoppers how ... far their money goes," said Felix. "Because of the contracts local food banks have with grocery stores, one dollar can feed seven people. We raised $742, that's 5,194 meals." A resident of Grand Terrace and a Colton business owner-Felix owns Colton's RJR Industrial Properties-she said, "It's really rewarding. It was neat to see my own community step up and realize that not everybody is as fortunate as they are. It was also nice that [the food was donated] to those in our immediate community. It's not going to a nameless place or person; that's not to say they're not deserving, but I thought it was nice that we could stay local." Gloria Gaona is the president and founder of Colton's Seeds of Hope Foundation, which has been serving those in need in Colton for six years. The foundation received $122 and about 100 pounds of food from the Colton Rotary Club, she estimated. On Fridays, the organization gives out free bags of food at their location, 582 W. Valley Blvd., Ste. 9. "We give to everybody but the ones I always try to work with are the working poor," said Gaona. "I call them 'the lost people.' A lot of times they don't qualify (for assistance programs) and they have jobs but they just can't make ends meet." "Unfortunately we see a lot of people each week and that number is increasing," she said, citing the downturned economy as a culprit. But she sees a silver lining. Gaona believes partnerships between community assistance programs is crucial. "You have to network. Power comes in numbers. We can all help each other. I may have something that you don't. Everyone has a special gift; they just have to use it." Seeds of Hope will also be giving traditional Thanksgiving meals as the holiday approaches, and are currently taking toy donations for their upcoming Dec. 21 Toys for Christmas giveaway.