Event founder Marcus Arnold recently spoke at three Mariemont Elementary assemblies, sharing how they can make a difference when there is a need. Photo courtesy of Marcus Arnold

ORANGEVALE /FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) – Organizers are seeing something different this year as we approach the main event of the 7th annual Orangevale-Fair Oaks Community Food Drive: People aren’t waiting to be asked. They are reaching out months ahead, anticipating it as part of their annual calendar.  

The effort is reaching farther, too – inspiring more than 600 Mariemont Elementary students in the Arcade area to reach beyond themselves and their own community in service. Event founder Marcus Arnold recently spoke at three assemblies, sharing how they can make a difference when there is a need. 

“The students were so engaged,” Arnold said.

The food drive will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Divine Savior Catholic Church parking lot, 9079 Greenback Lane in Orangevale. Donations can be dropped off drive-through style. Neighborhood and organizational drives are encouraged to drop off larger consolidated donations.

Nonperishable foods, especially peanut butter, cereal and oatmeal, pasta and pasta sauce, are requested. Canned fruits and vegetables, beans and rice, and ramen and instant noodles are also needed.

The community’s proactive response comes as food insecurity climbs again.

“Benefits they have had in the past are coming to an end, food costs continue to rise, so the need is starting to rise,” said Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank Executive Director Andrea Scollay. “Things are reaching a bit of a tipping point again and people are looking for hands-on things they can do.”

Growing community ownership and celebration of service are happening right alongside growing food insecurity.

“Definitely more partners and response as times are difficult,” wrote Arnold in an email. “The demand is way up!!!”

Some of that response comes with friendly competition. Casa Roble High School Rams and Bella Vista High School Broncos are competing in a collection contest, while other groups are challenging one another, Scollay said, “mainly for bragging rights.”

The goal is 50,000 pounds. Yet neither organizer defined success by pounds.

Arnold said the day continues to mean “Collaboration and fun, meeting all walks of life, interfaith, broad variety in organizations, and more involvement from the community itself.”

For Scollay, it is simpler: “Smiling faces of the volunteers. Caring for our community. When that is accomplished, it is success no matter what the end result number says.”

Seven years in, perhaps that is how a food drive becomes a community tradition: someone invites us in, we show up, and eventually we are knocking at the door to ensure it’s on our calendar every coming year.