The Food Pantry in Newhall gets some much needed help from a
local home builder.   

[view:node_ad=5]Economic woes are being felt by many this holiday season,
and because of the added strain to budgets the demand for services from the
Santa Clarita Food Pantry is up 60 percent.

To help combat the added need, Pardee Homes is making a donation
of $1,500, which they hope will help keep the shelves stocked into the New Year.

This type of contribution isn’t new for Pardee Homes; they
have been making donations to the Food Pantry for the past three years.

“We feel it’s important to provide support to the community,”
said Jim Bizzelle, Pardee’s Vice President of Community Development for L.A and
Ventura Counties.  “It’s even more important as our economy struggles,
because charity needs our support more than ever.”

(Left to right) Jim Bizzelle, vice president for community development of Pardee Homes; Nancy Fisher, Food Pantry volunteer; Amy Bodemer, assistant to the executive director at the Food Pantry.

Bizzelle points out that the donation was made late in the
season because he feels that it’s important to continue to help after the
holidays.  He hopes that the company’s
donation will influence others to help.    

“Pardee Home’s core philosophy
is to be a part of the community,” said a spokesman for Pardee
Homes.  “It’s good to build homes but it’s
better to build communities.”

The Food Pantry donates more than $400,000 in food and
necessities to the community each year, and does this with the help of volunteers
and two part-time staff members. 

For more information on how you can help visit the Food Pantry’s
website.