Concord Students, Tesoro Martinez Workers Team Up To Scare Away Hunger!

CONCORD, CA – More than 100 Concord High School students and teachers, supported by a team of Tesoro Martinez Refinery employees, will be out on Monday Oct. 31st to “Scare Away Hunger” on behalf of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. This is the 6th annual event.

The students have formed teams that will trick-or-treat for food and/or donations in selected neighborhoods in the greater Concord area. The purpose is to raise much-needed funds and food for the Food Bank, which currently serves one in eight residents.

Tesoro Martinez Refinery is supporting the event with volunteers and vehicles, and is also matching dollar-for-dollar the funds collected or pounds of food donated for both the Food Bank and Concord High School.

The event starts at Concord High School on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m.with an event kickoff dinner for the student teams hosted by Tesoro Martinez Refinery. Food Bank staff will be on-hand with scales to weigh the food that is brought in by the teams or dropped off by the public. All teams must return for final weigh-in by 8:30 p.m. Concord High School teams are competing against one another to see who can raise the most funds or pounds of food.

“This is one of our favorite events of the year,” said Tesoro Martinez Refinery Manager Tom Lu. “Watching teams of students work closely (and competitively) alongside our employees for the benefit of those in our community who are hungry – well, that’s just a win-win.”

The collection areas covered will be in close proximity to the school.

Several days before the drive, students will place bags on porches and return on Oct. 31 to collect the donations. Folks who do not receive a bag and would like to participate may bring donations of food or funds to Concord High on Oct. 31 between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Concord High is located at 4200 Concord Blvd.

Larry Sly, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, said, “People shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. Currently, 1 in 8 residents receive food from the Food Bank and what’s making a difference for us in meeting the demand is how the community comes together with innovative ways to collect food and get the message out.”

• Also see: Halloween Weekend In NorCal: Hay & Corn Mazes; Pet & Costume Parades, Dances; Festivals; Trunk-or-Treating; Pub Crawl

--Info from City of Concord/Morguefile photo