The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge kicked off its annual food drive on Monday. The food drive is held in conjunction with its 21st Annual Thanksgiving Day Run.

The Community Center will be working with local schools and businesses to collect items, such as canned foods, pasta, rice, baby food, beans and other non-perishables. Because of potential breakage, the center is requesting no donations in glass containers. Grocery store gift cards are also a welcome way to donate to the cause. This year, the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge is again partnering with the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station to collect food to distribute to families in need. Every year, sheriff deputies responding to calls for service see families struggling to get by with food for their families.

Community Center President Ara Aslanian said that he is “thrilled with the number of schools participating in our 2014 food drive.”

“The Community Center has a long history of working with local organizations and we are grateful for their participation in our food drive,” Aslanian said.

Non-perishable food donation drop-off spots are located throughout La Cañada and La Crescenta. La Canada locations include the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, La Cañada Elementary, La Cañada High School seven thru 12 grades, Palm Crest Elementary, and Paradise Canyon Elementary.  The La Crescenta locations include the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station and Monte Vista Elementary School.

In addition, all participants in the CCLCF’s Thanksgiving Day Run are encouraged to bring food items on race day to donate to the food drive.  The Thanksgiving Day Run & Food Drive will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Memorial Park. All participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.TurkeyRun21.eventbrite.com.