Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Yes, we are continuing our operations and striving to minimize disruptions to our distribution schedule as much as possible. As an AIB-certified organization, Feeding San Diego already adheres to stringent health and safety measures. However, to reduce risk of community transmission of COVID-19, we are refining existing protocols and implementing new methods of food distribution, such as drive-through pickups that adhere to social distancing practices, which requires individuals to remain six feet apart. 

Beginning Monday, March 16, San Diego Unified Food and Nutrition Services will be conducting drive-through/walk-up distributions of daily prepared meals, free of charge, to support students who rely on free and reduced school meals. Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank are supporting these distributions with fresh produce. 

Children will need to be present to receive meals, and each child 18 years and younger may take one lunch and one breakfast for the next day. All food is to be taken and consumed off-site. Meal distribution times for all locations will be from Monday through Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm: 

Current Serving locations:

• Cherokee Point Elementary (*) – 3735 38th St, San Diego, CA 92105

• Chollas Mead Elementary – 4525 Market St, San Diego, CA 92102

• Clark Middle (*) – 4388 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92105

• Farb Middle (*) – 4880 La Cuenta Dr, San Diego, CA 92124

• Horton Elementary School – 5050 Guymon St, San Diego CA 92102

• Ibarra Elementary School – 4877 Orange Ave, San Diego, CA 92115

• Kearny High School (*) – 1954 Komet Way, San Diego, CA 92111

• O’ Farrell Charter School (*) – 6130 Skyline Dr, San Diego, CA 92114

• Perkins K-8 – 1770 Main St, San Diego, CA 92113

• Porter Elementary North (*) – 445 S 47th St, San Diego, CA 92113

• Sherman Elementary School (*) – 301 22nd St, San Diego, CA 92102

• Walker Elementary School (*) – 9225 Hillery Dr, San Diego, CA 92126

• Zamorano Fine Arts Academy (*) – 2655 Casey St, San Diego, CA 92139

Additional Serving locations Starting Wednesday, April 1:

• Cesar Chavez Elementary School – 1404 S 40th St, San Diego, CA 92113

• Garfield Elementary School – 4487 Oregon St, San Diego, CA 92116

• Oak Park Elementary School – 2606 54th St, San Diego, CA 92105

Additional non-district serving locations:

• Albert Einstein Academy Middle School – 458 26th St, San Diego, CA 92102 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., M-F)

(*) Distributions supported by Feeding San Diego.

More information is available from San Diego Unified School District.  

• Seniors, who are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. 
• Children in low-income households who lost access to school meal programs when schools closed. 
• Workers employed in the hospitality, tourist, service industries, and others who may face financial difficulty as consumer activity slows.
• Low-income families who cannot afford to stock up on supplies. 
• 1 in 8 people facing hunger in San Diego County, including 1 in 6 children. 

Since we are not able to accommodate volunteers at this time, the best ways to help include the following:  

• Make a Gift: Your generosity helps ensure that we can continue to meet the ongoing and evolving needs of our community during the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to our operating efficiency and community partnerships, every dollar donated helps provide four meals.
• Start a Fundraiser: Help raise funds from friends, family, and colleagues to benefit Feeding San Diego and our food distribution programs.  
• Donate Food: If you have food to donate, please contact Dale Holland, Sourcing Manager, at daleholland@feedingsandiego.org or Lety Rodriguez, Sourcing Coordinator, at lrodriguez@feedingsandiego.org. 
• Volunteer for our Community Partners: While Feeding San Diego has suspended volunteer opportunities, many of our community partners are in need of volunteers. Complete this form and our team will get in touch with you with more information. 

Thank you for wanting to help. Based on guidance from Governor Newsom and public health agencies, we have cancelled all volunteer shifts. Instead, we are relying on regular, specialized volunteers to support our operational needs while maintaining social distancing at our distribution center.  

While Feeding San Diego has suspended our volunteering opportunities, many of our community partners are in need of volunteers. Register to volunteer by filling out this form and our team will get in touch with you with more information. 

Yes! Please contact Dale Holland, Sourcing Manager, at daleholland@feedingsandiego.org or Lety Rodriguez, Sourcing Coordinator, at lrodriguez@feedingsandiego.org.

No, Feeding San Diego is not cancelling any deliveries at this time. Some distribution times may change based on the needs of the site. We recommend calling in advance to confirm dates and times.

• If you lost your job, you may be entitled to receive unemployment insurance benefits. To file a claim or learn more, please visit the Employment Development Department.
• Governor Gavin Newsom has also issued a temporary halt on evictions for renters and homeowners until May 31, 2020, with possible extensions. Please note this does not absolve the responsibility to pay rent or mortgage. For more information, go here. 
• United Way of San Diego is providing rental assistance for those who lost employment or have reduced working hours due to COVID-19. When applying, you will be asked to provide your lease agreement/mortgage statement, utility bill, and last two paystubs. To apply, click here.
• For medical insurance, please consider applying for Medi-Cal via Covered California.
• To increase your food budget, please call our CalFresh team at 858.863.6635 to find out if you qualify and apply for CalFresh benefits.
• If you would like additional resources, please call 2-1-1.

CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps and nationally known as SNAP) is a nutrition assistance program designed to help families and low-income individuals purchase healthy foods. Eligible clients can receive an EBT card (similar to a debit card) that can be used to purchase food at the grocery store. Learn more.

Yes. An internal Coronavirus Response Task Force was formed at Feeding San Diego to monitor developments regarding the global outbreak of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors, and people we serve. We continue to implement recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health, and San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.   

Feeding San Diego is also in close communication with the COVID-19 Task Force at Feeding America, which represents the national network of more than 200 member hunger-relief organizations and is actively consulting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other agencies and partners who are in a position to support measures to ensure food access for the most vulnerable members of our communities. 

Feeding San Diego works in partnership with 300 community partners to help distribute food to people facing hunger. We are in close communication with these partners to assess how best we can support their programs and those we serve.

In alignment with our regular food safety protocols and policies, public health professionals from the CDC recommend the following steps:    

 Clean your hands often  

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.  
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.  
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.  

Avoid close contact  

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.  

Stay home if you’re sick  

• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.  

Cover coughs and sneezes  

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.  
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  

Wear a facemask if you are sick  

• If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.  
• If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.  

Clean and disinfect  

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.  
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Please visit our Press Coverage section to view the latest news on our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response. 

As of Thursday, March 19, 2020, the California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors.

Feeding San Diego continues to serve the community during the stay home order because hunger relief is an exempt activity. We are taking every precaution to protect the safety of our staff and volunteers during this COVID-19 pandemic while providing essential services to those in need.

For more information on the Executive Order order, go here. 

Please call Meals on Wheels or dial 2-1-1.

Send us an email at info@feedingsandiego.org or call 858.452.3663. We’re experiencing a high volume of calls and emails at this time, and are prioritizing those in need of food, so it may take us a couple hours to get back to you. Thank you for your patience!