Partnering to Make the Holidays Easier with Free Holiday Meals

The holiday season is here again. For San Diegans, this year has been another plagued with high food and gas prices. At Feeding San Diego, we recognize that the holidays are a stressful time for many of us, but for those facing hunger, it’s especially complicated. That’s why Feeding San Diego organized a series of three pop-up holiday food distributions. Starting with a distribution last week at North Island Credit Union (NICU) Amphitheatre, this series will provide free holiday meals to anyone in need of resources this season.

Volunteers load a box of dry goods into a waiting car at the NICU Amphitheatre holiday food distribution

Recognizing the Need

In October 2023, the U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-2024 list ranked San Diego as the most expensive city in the United States. From persistently high gas prices to soaring food costs, San Diegans have seen first-hand what that means.

Bart, an attendee at the NICU Amphitheatre food distribution, put it simply: “I remember those days we’d go and, for $40, bring a whole shopping cart of food. Not anymore.”

Throughout the year, hundreds of thousands of San Diegans deal with the effects of food insecurity. They attend food distributions held by Feeding San Diego and its partners to get access to nutritious food. But this time of year, it’s not just about having food on the table. It’s about making the holidays bright for the ones they love.

What Makes a Free Holiday Meal?

A typical food distribution held by Feeding San Diego offers fresh produce and various dry goods to the community. To make these holiday food distributions special, Feeding San Diego’s sourcing team focused on holiday-specific items, such as frozen turkey, mashed potato, and stuffing mix. These more expensive items required a little extra support. Fortunately, the Albertsons Companies Foundation stepped up to sponsor the distribution and help offset those costs.

“We are incredibly grateful to be able to provide this food ahead of the holiday. What an appropriate way to celebrate this uniquely American holiday—Thanksgiving—than to give food to neighbors in need,” said Bob Kamensky, interim CEO of Feeding San Diego, about the NICU Amphitheatre distribution. “We give our thanks to our staff, volunteers, donors, and corporate partners, especially the Albertsons Companies Foundation, for making this large effort possible. It’s vital for our organization to provide food assistance to the South Bay community as inflation and the high cost of living continue to have a severe impact.”

A group of volunteers at the NICU Amphitheatre holiday food distribution

Serving the Community This Holiday Season

At the NICU Amphitheatre food distribution before Thanksgiving, almost 2,000 families drove through and received supplies for their holiday meals. The volunteers from last week deserve a special shoutout like Teresa, a retired ER nurse who has donated over 150 hours of her time this month.

“I’m touched by it, knowing that we’re here to be able to help these people and other families. The excitement I feel inside, the joy, you’re making smile,” she said while volunteering at the NICU Amphitheatre distribution.

Where to Find Free Holiday Meals

Feeding San Diego will hold two more distributions in the coming weeks: at Palomar College in San Marcos and at Feeding San Diego’s distribution center in Sorrento Valley. All three distributions reached registration capacity within days of being announced.

While the holiday distributions are full, Feeding San Diego helps provide food at sites throughout San Diego County. If you or someone you know is in need of food resources this holiday season, check our find food map for more information.

Interested in helping San Diegans facing hunger? Every dollar you donate by the end of the year doubles to help provide four meals to the community. Find out more about how you can get involved.