Cupertino Community Services hopes to change that. The nonprofit agency is running an ongoing holiday food drive at a time when there are an estimated 165,000 individuals in Silicon Valley receiving food assistance--many of them children or elderly.

"We're hoping to collect 2,000 pounds of food," said Kim Ferm, a food and nutrition director with CCS. "And 4,000 pounds of food would see us through July."

To help with this effort, CCS has set up barrels for food donations throughout the community. The agency is also partnering with the Second Harvest Food Bank and local stores.

With winter approaching and the cost of heating up, Ferm said the donated food also helps in other ways.

"We have people coming to us for help with their utility bills. They are having to choose between utilities or food," she said. "The food donations help people not have to choose."

As a part of that effort, CCS is also collecting fresh fruit and vegetables, both from local stores and from those residents with small orchards.

"Deliveries of fresh fruit are also important, especially since we have many Asian clients who prefer it to canned fruit," Ferm said.

As a part of the food drive, Ferm said volunteers are also needed to help staff the food pantry in two- to four-hour shifts.

The agency is also collecting toys and gift certificates to distribute to children and teenagers, with the greatest need for items for 15- to 18-year-olds.

For more information on how to donate or how to volunteer, visit www.cupertinocommunityservices.org, or call 408.255.8033.