Riverside, CA – Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB), is set to host the Million Meals Gala – Under The Harvest Moon on Saturday, November 17 at the La Villa Bella San Antonio, a historic event site, in Upland. CA. Tickets may be purchased and donations accepted for the event online at:  https://www.feedingamericaie.org/gala. Proceeds from the evening will help to provide meals to food insecure children and families in the Inland Empire.

Jess Kurti, a marathon runner and hunger advocate, hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, will serve as the Keynote Speaker for the event. “Jess has been running marathons throughout the nation, and has been volunteering at local food banks, like FARSB.  She is a key champion in raising awareness about the hunger issues in our country,” said FARSB, CEO Stephanie Otero.

The evening will also feature Hunger Hero Awards, for those organizations who supported our mission to alleviate hunger in our community.  Winners are chosen by public vote and will be announced at the Gala. Those nominated include:  Unity Of The Faith Christian Outreach Ministries, Inc. in Moreno Valley, T.O.U.C.H Ministries in Ontario, and High Desert Second Chance in Hesperia, KTLA-TV, KSGN-FM, California Citrus State Historic Park and the National Charity League, Riverside Chapter.

An additional President’s Choice award, whose recipient will be chosen by Otero, will also be awarded to an individual in our community whose inspirational service to FARSB best represents the hope that together we can end food insecurity in the Inland Empire.

Sponsors of the event include: Target, Wells Fargo, Walmart, Majestic Realty, Hodgdon Group Realty, Pacific Premiere Bank, Pechanga Resort and Casino, Cardenas Markets, Mike & Clara Vanderpool, IEHP and Enterprise.

In the Inland Empire, more than 800,000 people live below the poverty line and are at risk for food insecurity. That number includes one in four children.

To learn more about FARSB and other ways you can get involved and support the Inland Empire community, please visit www.FeedingIE.org.

About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino began in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary source of food for over 400 nonprofit organizations, distributing over 2 million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, halfway houses, senior centers, residential treatment centers, shelters for the abused, after school programs and group homes. More than 400,000 men, women and children rely on the food bank’s distribution center each month to make ends meet.