Eureka, CA – The skies opened up and so did the hearts of the Humboldt community on Wednesday when high school students, city councilmembers, business and non-profit leaders, Boy Scouts, and children showed up in the pouring rain to donate OVER one and half TONS of food during Senator McGuire’s first annual  “Drop-off and Donate” food drive event.

“We know that the need is great, and we all know how incredibly generous Humboldt is, but we were overwhelmed by the amazing response on Wednesday night,” Senator McGuire said. “We feel privileged to have partnered with Food For People, who does such important work in every corner of this great County, and we were thrilled that three local high schools stepped up and collected trucks full of canned and dried food to help alleviate hunger. Thank you.”

The food drive collected 3,154 pounds of food and $1,778 in financial donations, including a $1,000 donation from Safeway and $500 from AFSCME and County of Humboldt employees.

Three local high schools, Arcata, Eureka and McKinleyville High, participated in the Humboldt Holiday Food Drive Showdown to win the coveted “Golden Can Award” and its next school dance on the house (up to $750 in value). The victory was clear when Eureka High School Principal Jennifer Johnson and her students drove up pulling a horse trailer full of donations. Eureka High will officially be awarded the trophy and check at a ceremony in January.

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