Now that we are sliding into the holiday season, several Inland Empire eateries and grocery stores are inviting customers to help out the less fortunate.

First up, we have Victorville’s Johnny Rebs’, which is sponsoring a Thanksgiving food drive. Those who bring at least two canned or boxed foods suitable for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner (e.g. a box of stuffing or mashed potato flakes, a can of gravy or cranberry sauce, etc.) will receive 15% off their meal.

The donated food will be given to the Victor Valley Rescue Mission, which will be holding its Thanksgiving Banquet for the needy from noon to 3 p.m on Wednesday, November 25. Last year, the mission served nearly 700 Thanksgiving meals, this year they expect to serve over 1,000.

In other words, your donations to Johnny Rebs’ will definitely be put to good use.

So, if you want to help the hungry and “put some South in your mouth” at the same time (and get 15% off!), visit the Victorville Johnny Rebs’ at 15051 Seventh St.

Also, if you are interested in donating a turkey to Victor Valley Rescue Mission, please call (760) 955-5958.

Also collecting food for the needy is Yogoo la Mode, 7890 Haven Ave. (at Town Center Drive), Suite 8, Rancho Cucamonga.

Yogoo, which recently celebrated its second anniversary, is collecting for food the Rancho Cucamonga-based GAP Food Bank.

Those who bring in donations through December 21 will receive a free yogurt with the purchase of a yogurt.

Guidelines for donations:

• Plastic, paper or aluminum packaging is preferred over glass bottles and jars.
• The food bank is unable to refrigerate items. Please purchase non-perishable items and check expiration dates.
• Pull top cans are preferred over those that require a can opener.
• Smaller-sized items are also preferred, as they are easier to store and distribute.

Suggested items:

• Breads and crackers — boxes of crackers; boxes of spaghetti, pasta, rice; breakfast cereal bars
• Fruits and vegetables — canned fruits and vegetables; fruit cups; canned soups; canned spaghetti/tomato sauces
• Proteins — canned stew; canned tuna or chicken; canned chili; canned pasta sauces; peanut butter; Vienna sausage; bags of dried beans

Collecting cash donations through January 31 are your local Ralphs and Food 4 Less markets.

Local stores will have donation canisters at checkstands as part of its “Bringing Hope to the Table” campaign.

Money collected will go to a variety of Southern California food banks and hunger relief organizations, including Second Harvest Food Bank,
which serves San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Ralphs/Food 4 Less also recently announced plans to expand their fresh food rescue program. This company-wide project, called the Perishable Donation Partnership, will increase the company’s number of stores that donate safe, perishable food. The supermarket chains work with Feeding America-affiliated food banks (like Second Harvest) that have the capacity to safely handle and distribute fresh food.

This initiative not only increases the amount of fresh food Ralphs and Food 4 Less donates, it will help improve the diets of individuals and families who depend on hunger relief programs by giving food banks access to a variety of nutritious meats, fruits and vegetables.

So, the next time you pass through your local Ralphs or Food 4 Less checkstand, drop a quarter or two (or a twenty) in the donation canister.

Dine 909 salutes these three in their efforts to solicit donations for the needy. If any of you Dine 909ers know of any other places that are also helping to raise donations, please feel free to email us or leave a comment below.