Nipomo Lions Club recently donated another $1,000 to The Nipomo Food Basket, which provides food to needy families and individuals on the Nipomo Mesa. Over the past several years, the Nipomo Lions have donated more than $16,000 and 5,000 lbs of food to the local nonprofit organization.

“Our club is honored and proud to have been able to support The Nipomo Food Basket over the years,” said Larry Winnen, club president. “They have helped so many local families and individuals in need.”

Located at 197 W Tefft St. in Nipomo, the all-volunteer Nipomo Food Basket distributes 5,000-6,000 pounds of food every single week to 30 or more families per day and puts together special baskets of food and essentials for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

The operation is funded solely from local donations, and most of the food is also donated by service groups like the Lions Club and local businesses like Vons. Fruits and vegetables are also gleaned from the fields and orchards of individual residents and commercial farms by volunteers, including the Leos Club from Nipomo High School.