IECC Brings Nonprofits Together to Lend a Helping Hand during the Holidays

Nonprofits in the Inland Empire come together for the Annual Holiday Food Drive to feed those in need this festive season.

San Bernardino, CA – For the last 10 years the Inland Empire Community Collaborative (IECC) has teamed up with local nonprofits to provide meals thousands of meals to families in the Inland Empire. These meals are provided by Los Angeles based nonprofit Navidad En El Barrio, a nonprofit agency that seeks food donations from major food companies to create food baskets for the holidays. 

This year’s 10th Annual Navidad En El Barrio Food Drive was dedicated to Amy Herr, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of San Gorgonio Pass, who passed away on November 23, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Amy fought valiantly against Multiforme Glioblastoma, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her. IECC recognized her and her husband’s unwavering support of children and families in the region.

Now more than ever communities in the Inland Empire are facing record-breaking unemployment and food insecurity. Many members of our community, largely people of color and minoritized individuals, have found themselves unable to support their families during these difficult times. 

Through the combined efforts of our coalition and community volunteers, IECC brought together numerous organizations to assemble 885 baskets of food for communities in need of a meal during the holidays. That is nearly 400 more baskets than the 500 baskets assembled in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the past years, a grateful father of three from San Bernardino expressed his gratitude to IECC staff making deliveries. “Because of this basket, we’ll have food, but I’ll also be able to buy Christmas toys for my children.” 

Over the last 10 years IECC has raised over $54,640, assembled nearly 11,177 baskets, and served over 44,700+ people in the region. For over 10 years and thousands of dollars a year worth of food, IECC has helped make Christmas a little brighter for families in need. 

To learn more about the IECC’s Navidad En El Barrio, visit www.ieccnonprofit.org.