Food Banks Make Plea for Y2K Stockpiles

ORANGE COUNTY —  Local food banks are hoping to reap the benefits of the Y2K hoopla, appealing for donations of stockpiled food and water.

The food banks, which feed thousands of people each day, saw a 50% drop in the amount of donated goods in late 1999 as compared to 1998--an alarming decline some attributed to people hoarding food out of Y2K fears.

The drop came at an especially bad time because holiday demand was up; now, many organizations are hoping to receive the hoarded provisions as donations.

“From the food perspective, we were affected by Y2K,” said Lisa Fujimoto, vice president of the Orange County Rescue Mission. “We’re looking to those who have been hoarding.”

Fujimoto said donations fell by half during October and November, traditionally strong months for donations. In addition, the organization is facing an increased demand for its services.

“If individuals are stocking up at home, they’re not donating,” Fujimoto said. “We did three times the drives we normally do, and we still came out short. We attributed it to Y2K, that people were stocking up.”

One of the largest food banks, Second Harvest Food Bank, which feeds more than 180,000 people per month in Orange County, has initiated a “Y Go 2 Waste” campaign aimed at those with full food shelves.

“Despite the booming economy, despite economic prosperity, people are struggling to make ends meet,” said Nicole Thompson, the organization’s spokeswoman. “There are people who are hungry in Orange County. . . . For many, the choice is between food and rent.”