Mission Hope Launches Santa's Summer Food Drive to Help Local Families Facing Increased Food Insecurity

TEMECULA, Calif. — As summer continues and household budgets are stretched by rising grocery and housing costs, Mission Hope is launching its Santa's Summer Food Drive, a month-long community campaign to help provide nutritious food to local families, seniors, veterans, and individuals experiencing hardship throughout Southwest Riverside County.

The food drive runs throughout July and supports Mission Hope's Hope Food Pantry, which serves residents of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, and Winchester.

The need for food assistance continues to grow. Just one year ago, Mission Hope provided food assistance to an average of 400 households each month. Today, that number has increased to more than 550 households each month, a 37% increase. The largest increase is among working families struggling to keep pace with the rising cost of housing, groceries, and other basic necessities.

"Summer can be especially difficult for families already living paycheck to paycheck," said Heather Sanford, CEO of Mission Hope. "When children are home from school and household expenses continue to rise, many families need a little extra support. Our community has always responded with generosity when neighbors are facing hardship, and Santa's Summer Food Drive is a fun way for everyone to make a meaningful difference."

Each week, Mission Hope provides food boxes filled with shelf-stable pantry items, fresh produce, and other nutritious foods to help feed local households. Donations collected through the Santa's Summer Food Drive help keep pantry shelves stocked and supplement the weekly food boxes distributed throughout the month. Mission Hope also provides home delivery for homebound seniors who are unable to visit the pantry in person.

Community members can support the Santa's Summer Food Drive by donating unopened, nonperishable food items throughout July. Most-needed items include:

• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Peanut butter
• Canned meat
• Canned vegetables and beans
• Canned or dry soup
• Healthy snack items

Drop-Off Locations

Donations may be dropped off throughout July at the following partner locations:

DCH Auto Group

• Honda – 26755 Ynez Road
• Kia – 26799 Ynez Road
• Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – 26845 Ynez Road
• Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Farmers Insurance – Craig Davis Family Agency

• 27626 Jefferson Ave., Suite 100, Temecula
• Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Rancho Christian Preschool

• 31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula
• Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Financial contributions are also welcome and help Mission Hope purchase high-demand food items for local families.

For more information about the Santa's Summer Food Drive or to make a financial contribution, visit www.missionhope.com.

About Mission Hope

Mission Hope, a local nonprofit serving Southwest Riverside County since 1983, partners with the community to provide access to healthy food, housing, and essential resources that help individuals and families achieve lasting stability. Mission Hope operates the Hope Food Pantry, Hope Resource Center, Hope Family Housing, and Empowerment Village, connecting neighbors in need with food assistance, housing and resource navigation, transitional housing, and individualized support. Together, these programs help prevent hunger and homelessness by connecting individuals and families with the support and opportunities they need to become self-sufficient and thrive.

Contact:
Kristi Piatkowski, Development Director
Mission Hope
(714) 260-2699 | kristi.piatkowski@missionhope.org