Lompoc Food Pantry seeking turkeys, donations as holidays draw near - Santa Maria Times

As the holiday season draws closer, officials at the Lompoc Food Pantry are again calling on the local community to help provide meals for some of the area's less-fortunate families.

The Food Pantry, which is run by Catholic Charities, is in dire need of turkey donations. With just nine days remaining before Thanksgiving, the pantry’s walk-in freezer had only about 25 turkeys, a total well short of the organization’s target of 400. Additionally, Food Pantry leaders are hopeful that community members will donate money — via grocery store gift cards — that can be used to purchase food and supplies, and/or their time by volunteering.

“This is the busiest, and the most demanding, time of the year,” Angel Ramos, a Food Pantry coordinator, said Tuesday. “We’re short on people, turkeys, everything.”

Some help could be on the way, as Ramos noted that the owners of the Lompoc Grocery Outlet store recently notified him they were planning to donate potentially dozens of turkeys. Ramos said he was hopeful that others would also become inspired to give.

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Anyone who would like to donate to the effort can do so by bringing turkeys and/or other foods to the Food Pantry at 325 North 2nd St., or by making a monetary donation.

Ramos asked that monetary donations be made via gift card, which would allow the Food Pantry workers to immediately use the funds to purchase items that are needed. If donations are made via cash or check, the Lompoc Food Pantry would need to get approval from the Catholic Charities office in Los Angeles before being able to access the funds.

Ramos noted that going through the Los Angeles office, which he described as being akin to “talking to Congress,” could draw out the process and significantly delay the Lompoc Food Pantry’s ability to utilize the funds.

Thanks to a Silent Angel program, all monetary donations to the Food Pantry through the end of the year will be matched by a private anonymous Catholic Charities donor.

Ramos said the Food Pantry hopes to begin giving out the turkeys once it has 100 in stock.

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“Once you give one turkey out, word travels really quick,” he said, laughing.

Families will be given priority for the turkeys. If turkeys remain after the families are served, then they will be given to other clients ahead of Thanksgiving.

If turkeys remain after Thanksgiving, Ramos said they may be held to give to clients at Christmastime.

Anyone who would like to receive food from the Food Pantry must first register with the organization on-site.

Ramos said he was confident that the Food Pantry would be able to meet its demand from the community this holiday season.

“God always prevails,” he said.

Ryzbel Pack, a client services regional coordinator with Catholic Charities, agreed.

“He provides,” Pack said. “And people are very generous in this town.”