Doubling their efforts from last year, Milpitas-based Duran and Venables Inc. collected almost 4,000 pounds of food and other goods from their employees, vendors and the community to benefit the Milpitas Food Pantry at their second annual Company Food Drive. A provider of grading and paving services in Northern California, Duran and Venables promoted its month long food drive to their employees and vendors by accumulating food and other necessities to give to individuals and families in need.

"We strive to provide the best service and support to our customers and communities. The food drive is a good way to convey our employees' and our vendors' interest in assisting our community," said Sean Venables, president of Duran and Venables.

The Milpitas Food Pantry is part of the Second Harvest Food Network, which assists residents of Milpitas and Alviso by an emergency food box program that distributes food to low and no-income residents. The pantry serves approximately 300 households comprising of about 900 individuals every month. Families range in size from one to 12. They also assist a number of elderly and the homeless population as well.

Susan Lang, assistant manager of the pantry, pointed out that the Duran and Venables Company Food Drive has become "such an important event to the pantry, especially during the summer months, which usually yields small donations in comparison to the winter season. The food drive really keeps us at a steady level up until

the winter. The cash donations this year really helped as well, we were able to purchase two freezers that needed replacing! We are so thankful for everything this food drive has done for us, and we now look forward to it every year!"

At the end of the month-long Company Food Drive, Duran and Venables hosted a barbecue at their office in Milpitas to thank employees and vendors for their support and contributions, and to present their donations to the Milpitas Food Pantry.

Vendors that donated included: Bobcat West, Bond Blacktop, Broom Service Inc., California Express Trucking, Cemex Inc., Cook's Automotive, Cresco Equipment Rentals, Del Secco Diamond Core & Saw Inc., Diamond Fence Co. Inc., Dick's Automotive, E.N. Marble, Express Concrete, Fine Line Sawing, Fonseca/McElroy Grinding Co., Gagliasso Trucking, George Bianchi Construction, Granite Construction, Granite Rock, Isaacson Lube Service, Jody's Transport, JR Watertruck Service, Mag Trucking, Pacific Underground Construction, Packs Water Trucks, Pape Machinery, Petersen Tractor Company, Quality Striping, Raisch Products, Ramon's Tire Service, Reed & Graham, RSC Equipment Rentals, SB Transportation, Stevens Creek Quarry, Sunbelt Rentals, Tractor Equipment Services, Topcon Lasers, Trench Plate Rental, Turner Construction, United Rentals, Vulcan Materials, Weaver's Inc., and White Cap.

Public donations can be made to the Milpitas Food Pantry in person at 196 S. Main St. in Milpitas, or by mail at P.O. Box 360061, Milpitas, Calif. 95036. For more information on the pantry, call 946-5564 or visit them online at www.milpitasfoodpantry.org.

Duran and Venables provides grading and paving construction services in Northern California. Duran and Venables, in business for 29 years, won the 2006 Constructor Award, EUCA Safety Award and California Prospector Award.