Super Bowl Food Drive Collects Thousands of Pounds for El Dorado County Families

Youth group at Faith Episcopal Church organizes annual event to fight hunger in the community.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Before the Super Bowl kicked off on Sunday, a group of teens from Faith Episcopal Church in Cameron Park, California spent the day collecting thousands of pounds of food donations for the Food Bank of El Dorado County. The annual Super Bowl Food Drive has become one of the largest food drives of the year for the region, with neighbors filling the church parking lot with donations of cereal, canned fruits, soups, and other non-perishable items. Organizers hoped to surpass last year's total of 2,500 pounds, noting that food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the community, especially with high food prices.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl Food Drive highlights the ongoing need to address hunger and food insecurity in El Dorado County, where nearly 1 in 8 residents don't know where their next meal will come from, despite California's status as a major agricultural producer. The drive helps the local food bank continue feeding around 10,000 people per week in the region.

The details

The youth group at Faith Episcopal Church in Cameron Park organized the one-day food drive, partnering with the Food Bank of El Dorado County to collect donations from the community. Neighbors filled the church parking lot with bags of non-perishable food items like cereal, canned fruits, and soups. Volunteers said the need for donations has only increased as food prices remain high. Bella Vista High School student Charlie Caldera, who first volunteered at the drive when she was 10 years old, said it was rewarding to see more young people getting involved in the effort to fight hunger.

  • The Super Bowl Food Drive took place on Super Bowl Sunday (February 9, 2026).
  • Last year's food drive collected 2,500 pounds of donations.

The players

Faith Episcopal Church

A church in Cameron Park, California that organizes the annual Super Bowl Food Drive to collect donations for the local food bank.

Food Bank of El Dorado County

The local food bank that partners with Faith Episcopal Church for the Super Bowl Food Drive and distributes the collected donations to feed about 10,000 people per week in the region.

Charlie Caldera

A Bella Vista High School student who first volunteered at the Super Bowl Food Drive when she was 10 years old and has continued to be involved, inspiring other youth to give back to the community.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The need is great, and we are here to support our neighbors, in good times and bad times. Right now, food insecurity is a real thing, and every little bit we can do helps.”

— Connie Weatherholt, Member, Faith Episcopal Church (kcra.com)

“I do it every year. It's just my way of paying back the community.”

— Dennis Byrne, Donor (kcra.com)

“I feel like more people are coming together, especially more youth. It's really rewarding to see how much we actually raised. When you're filling it up, it doesn't seem like much, but when you put it all together, it's a ton — and it's really helpful.”

— Charlie Caldera, Bella Vista High School Student (kcra.com)

What’s next

Organizers plan to continue the Super Bowl Food Drive as an annual event to support the Food Bank of El Dorado County and address food insecurity in the region.

The takeaway

The Super Bowl Food Drive demonstrates the power of community-driven efforts to tackle hunger, with local youth and residents coming together to collect thousands of pounds of donations that will help feed families in need across El Dorado County.