RUN AGAINST HUNGER COMES JUST IN TIME FOR FOOD PANTRY BARE SHELVES ATTEST TO NEED FOR BOOST IN FUND-RAISING TO AID NEEDY FAMILIES.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

NEWHALL - The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry is gearing up for its only fund-raiser of the year, and with pantry shelves bare and donations at an all-time low, the Run Against Hunger is coming at just the right time.

The ninth annual 5K Run Against Hunger is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday with the course starting at Newhall Park, following the South Fork Trail and then returning to the park. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and is $20, or $15 for seniors and children under 12. All proceeds will be used to feed Santa Clarita's hungry.

``Our shelves are really, really empty right now,'' said Food Pantry executive director Dianne Quinlan, who has recently had to purchase food for the pantry due to the lack of donations. ``We are getting to the desperate point.''

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry was established in 1986 with the vision that no child in the valley would ever go to bed hungry. To accomplish that goal, the pantry provides supplemental food on a short-term basis to qualified local residents, currently serving about 2,000 individuals per month, half of them children.

``The pantry lives off donations, but there are times when donations just don't come in, like right now,'' said Jan Fears, race co-chair and Food Pantry board member. ``At times like these, we use monetary funds we have raised to make food purchases to give out to our clients.''

Excess funds are placed in the Food Pantry's capital campaign to be used to purchase and renovate the pantry's current building on Railroad Avenue in Newhall. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the city of Santa Clarita and numerous donations from local businesses, the pantry has raised $48,000 toward its goal of $400,000.

The Run Against Hunger usually attracts more than 250 local participants, and will be presided over again this year by news anchor and Santa Clarita resident Rick Chambers. The run is open to participants of all ages and features awards in all divisions, as well as prizes for male and female overall winners.

``The run is a great way for the community to come together for a good time and to show their support for the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry,'' Fear said. ``It is for anyone who wants to run or walk for a good cause, from infants in strollers to seniors with walkers.''

To register for the Run Against Hunger, make a donation to the Food Pantry or inquire about volunteer opportunities, call the pantry at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Executive director Dianne Quinlan walks past empty boxes and shelves at the Santa Clarita Food Pantry in Newhall, which is holding its annual fund-raiser, the Run Against Hunger, on Sunday.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer