TUCSON, Ariz. -- People flooded the Winterhaven streets for the 70th annual Festival of Lights.
It is an event that brings people together, but Winterhaven is more than just its many lights and decorations.
It is also the Community Food Bank’s second largest food drive of the year.
Norma Cable works for the Community Food Bank of southern Arizona. She says folks will enjoy the festival more if they give.
“Tis a real important drive.To bring in that much food. 56,000 pounds last year is amazing,” said Cable.
They’re hoping to break that record this year, as the demand for food over the holidays continues to grow.
“The two days before Thanksgiving are our busiest days of the year. We served about 1,000 just at the main warehouse each day. That Tuesday, Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Now it’s December. Our demand is still high,” Cable added.
What to help? Here are some donations that are highly recommended.
“Peanut butter, cereal, oatmeal, canned tuna, canned tuna. Those are great donations for the protein,” Cable told KGUN9.
She says these donations truly transform lives. Cable adds nearly a third of people they serve are children.
“It can be a remarkable turnaround really. You can see a smile, you can see their spirits lighten, and I think we can all understand that in terms of knowing what basic food is to our lives,” said Cable.
So when you are getting ready to come out to Winterhaven, Cable wanted you to remember this:
“It’s a beautiful lights show, a beautiful way to see people come together and we just really would hope that people would take advantage of this chance to give to the community food bank. It’s an easy way to bring a bag of food and know that you’re making a difference and I think that just adds to the experience you’ll get out of this night.”
Winterhaven will take place from 6pm-10pm, every day until December 29.
For a full list of recommended donations, click here.
