Rotary Aims to Break 155 Food Box Record

The San Clemente Sunrise Rotary broke their record for charity food collection during the club's Thanksgiving food drive, collecting as much in two weekends as they did all year in 2011.

Now, club officials say, the want to smash that record again by raising more than 155 boxes of food during the weekend of Dec. 15. The club members, along with their junior counterparts of the San Clemente High School Interact Club, will be collecting Christmas chow Dec. 15 and 16 at the Camino del los Mares Ralphs.

"The need is so great for [Family Assistance Ministries], Laura’s House and Marine families, and they depend on us to make this happen," said club spokeswoman Sandy Beeler in an email.

Rotary Co-President Helen Delgrosso said that charities were so burdened by requests for food that the club wouldn't be hosting its traditional toy drive this year.

"This Christmas, we're not going to worry about the toys," she said. "Normally, we've got anywhere from 70 to 80 boxes, but we've added an extra day this year. Sometimes, people come out of the store and they feel bad they haven't bought anything. Sometimes they just open their wallets."

Cash helps because club members purchase missing items to fill in the gaps in the boxes, each of which feeds one family for Christmas dinner.

Club members will assemble the food boxes Monday evening at the Holiday Inn on Avenida de la Estrella.

Can't make it to Ralphs this weekend? email Delgrosso at helen_delgrosso@yahoo.com. She'll make arrangements to pick up the food or cash donation before. Please donate before Monday.

Want to help out? Here is a partial list of food items needed:

• Frozen Turkeys
• Gravy (canned or packaged)
• Canned Cranberry Sauce
• Boxed Stuffing Mix
• Brown Onions
• Canned or Fresh Yams
• Potatoes
• Canned Peas, Green Beans or Corn
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Fresh Apples and Oranges
• Canned Fruit
• Pumpkin Pie Filling
• Boxed Pie Crust Mix
• Evaporated Milk
• Corn Bread Mix
• Dessert Mixes and Nuts