350 army households in Chula Vista bought produce bins and necessities at a drive-through meals distribution program on Friday.
The meals drive was the third of the yr in partnership between USO San Diego and U.S. Bank, however simply the primary of many meals distribution efforts for households within the South Bay this vacation season.
Maria White is an air site visitors controller for the U.S. Navy and mentioned the occasions assist feed her household.
“I’ve two little boys, a two-and-a-half-year-old and a one-year-old. Each time we come we get plenty of produce, and dairy and meat and it actually helps preserve the grocery payments down,” mentioned White.
Volunteers assisted with car check-in and distribution of the bins in a contact-free setting.
Ammar Abuyousef of U.S. Financial institution mentioned the occasion can be an initiative to assist regional farmers who’ve been negatively impacted by the pandemic.
“We’re working with a neighborhood farm referred to as Smith Farms. We’re giving out every part that’s natural — we have now kiwi, we have now mangoes, we have now oranges, so completely different sorts of fruit and greens,” he mentioned.
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The fourth and ultimate distribution occasion of the yr will happen on Friday, December 18 from midday to 2:00 p.m. on the similar location. Abuyousef mentioned related occasions will proceed subsequent yr.
“It’s all the time essential to offer again, however I feel this yr greater than ever with the pandemic. Sadly, we have now increasingly households which might be needy,” he mentioned. “I feel once more, for us in San Diego, it’s extra essential for the army neighborhood, the place we have now near 400,000 lively obligation and veterans residing in San Diego.”
Elsewhere within the South Bay, Nationwide Metropolis leaders plan to distribute free turkeys and COVID-19 security kits this upcoming Tuesday on the Nationwide Metropolis Library Parking Lot, simply in time for Thanksgiving.
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Jacob Aere
Freelance Reporter

I’m a contract reporter. Along with protecting the most recent information and points related to San Diego, I search the ignored voices of our neighborhood to inform their tales.
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