Many people associate food drives with the holidays. The sad truth is that hunger knows no season. There are many people that need help all year long. People may be unaware that they can do many things to help support others who are in need.

If people can only help one charity in San Diego, they may want to consider one that helps feed people. With almost a half million people living at or near the Federal Poverty Level, some struggle with nutrition on a daily basis. About 70% of these households have children and some of them do not know what they will have to eat that day.

Food can be provided in many ways to those in need and there are many groups who help support this cause. It is always possible to make direct donations of food but people may want to explore other opportunities for giving. They can donate money directly either in person, by mailing a check or using common online payment methods. Anyone can also volunteer their time to help the many organizations that work to help with this cause.

There are many other ways to help. Many restaurants have events each year in which they donate all or most of the proceeds to various programs that support food banks and local food programs. Local high schools have competitions between students and schools to collect canned goods and other foods that are used for the various programs. Sports teams participate each year by collecting food from fans or other assistive programs. Local groups host golf tournaments, walk/run events and other things that help draw out support for nutrition support for local residents. Many local businesses assist with collecting food from employees and clients over the year.

People who need help can receive it from a variety of different programs. Some of them are geared to families with children. There are also programs for seniors over the age of 60 who qualify based on their income. There is a popular backpack program for school children. This program gives food to kids on Fridays to take home to eat over the weekend. Because these children depend on school nutrition programs during the week, they may lack basic nutrition over the weekend. This program helps to fill that gap. While many of these programs are geared toward families and seniors, people who lack the income to purchase the food they need may also want to explore these options. People who help to support food drives need to know that their assistance is needed and appreciated all year long.