Community Resource Center’s 37th annual Holiday Baskets program is San Diego’s largest holiday and food distribution event

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – It’s the time of the year for the Community Resource Center’s 37th annual Holiday Baskets Program.

It’s San Diego’s largest holiday food and gift distribution program of its kind, serving over 6,800 people in need.

Over 2,000 volunteers, local businesses, and generous donors help transform the Del Mar Fairgrounds Grandstand into a holiday shopping experience. Struggling families and those in need who have pre-registered will come this weekend to the Del Mar Fairgrounds to fill a shopping cart with items for the season. They can pick out coats, blankets, toys and some families receive bicycles. Each household also receives food for a holiday meal and staple food to last for two weeks.

Families that are struggling may not be able to afford a holiday for their families. Holiday Baskets makes it possible for them to have a wonderful holiday without having to worry about paying for other expenses such as medical bills, car repairs or rent.

For example, last year, Shary, a 76-year-old North County resident living on a fixed income, said that Holiday Baskets was the first time she had received gifts for Christmas in the last twenty years. She still uses the sheets she received there and wears the jacket she picked out. Shary comes to our Food and Nutrition Center monthly for food.

Executive Director, John Can Cleef, shared the details on Good Morning San Diego.