Feeding San Diego Welcoming Local Girl Scouts to Earn Climate Controller Food Rescue Patch During Earth Month
Partnership between Girl Scouts San Diego, SOLV Energy, and Feeding San Diego helps local Girl Scout troops learn about linkage between food waste and climate change
During the month of April, which is both Earth Month and Feeding San Diego’s Feed People, Not Landfills campaign, Girl Scouts San Diego troops are invited to volunteer at Feeding San Diego’s Sorrento Valley distribution center to earn their Climate Controller Food Rescue patch. Throughout the month, there will be three dedicated volunteer shifts specifically for local troops where Girl Scouts can sort, glean, and pack rescued food that will be distributed to San Diegans facing hunger. The Climate Controller Food Rescue patch was created in 2020 by SOLV Energy, in collaboration with Feeding San Diego, and can be earned several different ways, including by volunteering at Feeding San Diego.
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Girl Scouts San Diego troops in-person to our distribution center where they can learn how to be climate controllers by rescuing high-quality food before it goes to waste and helping to get it into the hands of people facing hunger,” said Dana Williams, Director of Marketing & Communications at Feeding San Diego. “The patch is an incredibly important lesson that will teach girls the linkage between food waste, hunger, and climate change and inspire them to take action through food rescue. You can positively impact the world at any age.”
Feeding San Diego’s mission is to end hunger through food rescue, and the non-profit works to keep edible surplus food out of landfills by working with over 600 food donors to rescue perfectly good food and get it to people in need. This work not only helps people in need of food assistance, it also keeps food out of the landfill where it creates methane gas–a leading contributor to climate change. The Climate Controller patch addresses multiple sustainable development goals of the United Nations, including climate action, no hunger, responsible consumption and partnerships. It is supported by the United Nations Association San Diego.
“SOLV Energy is proud to continue our partnership with Girl Scouts and Feeding San Diego to create good energy in our San Diego communities,” said Jennifer Hershman, Director of Community Relations at SOLV Energy. “Through the Climate Controller patch series, our goal is to empower the next generation to take climate action in their own lives and provide a toolkit that enables them to share what they learn with their family and friends.”
SOLV Energy, a solar services provider for utility solar, high-voltage substation and energy storage markets across North America with offices in San Diego, is behind the patch’s inception and is the presenting sponsor of Feeding San Diego’s Feed People, Not Landfills campaign. The company’s Good Energy program is run by Jennifer Hershman, director of community relations and Coronado resident. She has created a series of STEM focused Climate Controller patches that educate Girl Scouts on everything from solar energy to climate change. Beyond Earth Month, Girl Scouts are welcome at Feeding San Diego’s distribution center year-round to earn their Climate Controller Food Rescue patch through volunteering.
“Adventures in STEM are a foundational part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience,” said Carol Dedrich, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego. “Volunteering at Feeding San Diego to earn the Climate Controller Food Rescue patch supports local Girl Scouts in building important competencies in this area that will help them become the next generation of STEM leaders making the world a better place.”
Media are invited to attend the three dedicated shifts on the following dates:
- Thursday, April 14 from 3:30-5:30 PM
- Monday, April 18 from 6-8 PM
- Saturday, April 30 from 9-11 AM
Girl Scouts can sign up here.
