Helping Families in Need: The Doc and Gale Young Food Drive
This Thanksgiving marks the 26th annual Doc and Gale Young Food Drive. Hosted by the Austin Apartment Association in conjunction with members of the AAA Community Service Committee, the food drive raises funds to buy food packs for needy families and individuals in the Austin area. One hundred percent of proceeds will go towards this cause. For the past five years Hire Priority Apartment Staffing has contributed a percentage of their proceeds for the month of November, and plans to do so again this year.
By providing food rather than money, the Doc and Gale Young Food Drive gives families an opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal prepared in the comfort of their own home and according to their own traditions and customs. One food pack includes a twelve-pound turkey, ten pounds of potatoes, stuffing, flour, sugar, fruit, and more.
The Doc and Gale Young Food Drive has already begun and is accepting donations until November 9th at 5pm. All donations are tax-deductible can be made online at the Austin Community Foundation website (austincommunityfoundation.org) or via a downloadable form (austinfooddrive.com). Any amount is appreciated; however, each food pack costs forty dollars and includes enough food for a family of five to cook a hearty Thanksgiving meal and have leftovers for three to five days.
The Austin Statesman records that the number of families living in poverty has increased in recent years, with the Capital Area Food Bank distributing fifty percent more food last year than it did three years ago.
This year the food drive will benefit the Austin Housing Authority and TDPRS (Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services). Hire Priority also plans to contribute to the proceeds of the Doc and Gale Young Drive to help them reach their goal of $40,000 raised, enough to feed 1,250 families this Thanksgiving.