Feeding San Diego expands Feeding Heroes programs to address hunger for military and veteran families during COVID-19
FEEDING SAN DIEGO EXPANDS FEEDING HEROES PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS HUNGER FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES DURING COVID-19
SAN DIEGO (April 20, 2020) — Feeding San Diego announced today the expansion of the Feeding Heroes initiative to provide additional hunger-relief services to military and veteran families throughout San Diego County at new sites, including Dewey Elementary and Armed Services YMCA. Amid the growing need for food assistance, San Diego is home to the largest concentration of military and veterans in the country, including 143,000 active-duty service members with 260,000 military dependents. The total is expected to grow by 15,000 within the next three years as five additional ships will be homeported in San Diego. In total, more than 1.2 million veterans, active-duty military, and their dependents reside in the county, meaning 37 percent of the population is directly associated with the military.
“Research indicates that an estimated 20 percent of households experiencing hunger have a member who has served, or is currently serving, in the United States military,” said Vince Hall, CEO of Feeding San Diego. “Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding San Diego is committed to providing nutritious meals to military and veteran households who have dedicated their lives to this country.”
WHAT: Dewey Elementary | Feeding San Diego Food Distribution
WHEN: Monday April 20, 2020 I 11:00 AM (today) **Every Monday thereafter
WHERE: 3251 Rosecrans St., San Diego, CA 92110
INTERVIEWS: Vince Hall, CEO, Feeding San Diego
VISUALS: Drive-through distribution for 200 families picking up pre-packaged, prepared meals
In addition to the Dewey Elementary distribution, Feeding San Diego launched a new partnership with Armed Services YMCA last week to increase services for military and veteran families. Through the Feeding Heroes initiative, Feeding San Diego distributes more than 2.3 million meals to military and veteran families every year, serving an estimated 40,000 people. For more information on the Feeding San Diego Feeding Heroes initiative, visit feedingsandiego.org.
Feeding San Diego offers food assistance at sites throughout San Diego County. Additional community resources are accessible by calling 2-1-1 or visiting 211sandiego.org.
ABOUT FEEDING SAN DIEGO
Feeding San Diego is a non-profit organization on a mission to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. Established in 2007, Feeding San Diego is the leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization in San Diego County and the only Feeding America affiliate in the region. Feeding San Diego provides more than 26 million meals every year to children, families, seniors, college students, military families and veterans and people facing homelessness in partnership with a network of 300 local charities, schools, faith communities, meal sites and food pantries. Through an efficient model focused on reducing our impact on the environment, every dollar donated helps provide four nutritious meals to people in need. For more information on Feeding San Diego and its coronavirus response, visit feedingsandiego.org/coronavirus.
