Community Service
Volunteering helps not only the beneficiary, but can improve the health and well-being of the volunteer through decreased depression, mortality, and the effects of functional limitations, while increasing a sense of life’s purpose, social connections, and quality of life.1,2,3
CANNED FOOD DRIVE: Food insecurity is a term describing food access which results in a lower quantity and/or quality of food intake.4 Insufficient food intake and poor quality food increases health risks.5 The 2025 H.R.1 bill made drastic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the 2025 government shutdown will further compromise SNAP benefits beginning with November 1, 2025. Make a difference in your community by donating non-perishable canned foods. (note: no expired cans please)
November 1 – November 30, 2025
For drop off locations and times, email contact.thrive.wellness@gmail.com
ANNUAL FOOD SORT: As of 2020, almost 12 out of every 100 Americans and almost 1 in 10 Californians were food insecure.6 In Santa Clara County, over 144,140 people were food insecure in 2020, an increase of almost 6,100 residents in 2 years.6 Join us at our next food sort event to help our neighbors with access to fresh produce.
Past Food Sort Events:
10/23/2019
2/15/2017
11/1/2017
10/21/2015
11/5/2014
11/12/2013
11/3/2012
12/11/2010
10/28/2009
For more information about upcoming community service event location, details, and SIGN UPS, email contact.thrive.wellness@gmail.com
Legislative Action Awareness
UPDATES IN PROGRESS…Thank you for your patience as we update this section
Sources:
1 Morrow-Howell, N. (2010). Volunteering in later life: Research frontiers. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences 65B(4):461-469. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbq024
2 Boyd, D., & Bee, H. (2009). Lifespan Development. Boston:Pearson Education. 516-520.
3 Okun, M.A., August, K.J., Rook, K.S., & Newsom, J.T. (2010). Does volunteering moderate the relation between functional limitations and mortality? Soc Sci & Med, 71: 1662-1668.
4 USDA Economic Research Service. (2020). Definitions of Food Security. Sept 9. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx
5 Odoms-Young, A., et al. (2024). Food insecurity, neighborhood food environment, and health disparities: State of the
science, research gaps and opportunities [abstract]. Am J Clin Nutr.119(3):850-861. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.12.019.
6 Feeding America. (n.d.). Food Insecurity in the United States. Retrieved from https://map.feedingamerica.org/