The Sunnyvale Sun

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SCS serves 1,200 families makings for holiday dinner

By Jason Goldman-Hall

While much of the Silicon Valley gears up for the packed shopping bags of the holiday shopping season, volunteers with Sunnyvale Community Services were busy packing other bags for a more important cause.

More than 1,200 families were able to have Thanksgiving meals thanks to at least 1,600 bags of groceries and produce prepared by volunteers and public safety officers.

"Our clients with very low incomes rely on the food they get from us every month," said SCS director of operations Marie Barlahan. "So for Thanksgiving, we give the 'usual' three- to five-day supply of food, in addition to the fixings for the dinner."

The holiday season is particularly hard on the low-income community in Sunnyvale because many families rely on school-provided lunches to feed their children during the day.

The only part of the meal that community services does not provide is the turkey or ham. Instead, SCS gives families gift cards for local Safeway or Pak 'n Save markets.

"Turkeys and hams are the only foods we know of that cost much more when purchased in bulk," said executive director Nancy Tivol.

Tivol and company have began preparing for the annual Community Christmas Center.

The full-service grocery store and gift shop allows families to sign up for a shopping time and select their own meals and gifts.

To raise money for the center, the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual holiday party and auction at the center Dec. 7, 5 to 7 p.m. Admission costs a new gift for a child or teenager or a bag of groceries. There will be 30 items auctioned off and hundreds of others at a silent auction.

For a full list of auction items, or to find out how to donate or help out, visit www.svcommunityservices.org or contact Nancy or Carmen at 408.738.0121 or ntivol@svcommunityservices.org.