Drags racers and fans can help feed those in need and help themselves to a discount toward 2009 Wednesday Night Drags events by donating food for the 8th annual Infineon Raceway Thanksgiving Food Drive.
For two remaining nights only, drag racers and spectators who donate four or more non-perishable food items to the Thanksgiving Food Drive will receive at $10 voucher, which can be redeemed at any Wednesday Night Drags event in 2009. Non-perishable food items will be collected at Wednesday Night Drags events on Oct. 22 and 29. Limit one voucher per person.
The raceway will donate the collected food to two community organizations: Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH) in Sonoma and the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) in Petaluma. The raceway and its partners have generated more than 11,000 pounds of non-perishable food items since the inception of the drive in 2000 - including 2,300 lbs in 2007 - and in these difficult economic times, both FISH and COTS are in need as we approach the holiday season.
"This year we're really feeling the impact of the economy, especially now," said Elizabeth Hale, director of food programs for COTS. "Last year we set a limit of 280 boxes per week, but the need was growing so fast we had to find a way to continue to support that. We're now up to more than 400 boxes each week."
The public is also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the raceway during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) from Nov. 3 - Nov. 21. The raceway is located at 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476 (800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com for directions).
Those who cannot make the trip to Infineon Raceway can still participate in the food drive. Satellite drop-off locations will be located at:
- Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, 6 Petaluma Blvd., Suite A-2, (707) 762-2785 or www.petalumachamber.com.
- Petaluma Fire Department, 198 D Street, (707) 778-4390, www.cityofpetaluma.net.
- Destination RKA in Windsor, which is located at 930 Shiloh Rd, Bldg 41-C. For directions, call (707) 836-7659 or visit www.rka-luggage.com.
- Food items can also mailed to: Jennifer Imbimbo, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476.
FISH has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in times of need since 1970. In addition to food, FISH also aids families in need of clothes and rental assistance. For more information, call (707) 996-0111. COTS served more than 102,000 meals in 2007 alone through their Petaluma Kitchen and delivered more than 500,000 pounds of food to those who qualified for food subsidies. To contact COTS, call (707) 778-6380 or visit www.cots-homeless.org.
For more information on the food drive, please contact Jennifer Imbimbo at (707) 933-3981 or jennifer@infineonraceway.com.
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