San Diego’s Legal Community Comes Together to Overrule Hunger
The legal community fights for what they believe in, and Feeding San Diego commends the local legal community for fighting to end hunger. For the past decade, Feeding San Diego has worked closely with the local legal community every year on a campaign called Food from the Bar. This two-week event raises funds and awareness for Fuel for Summer. This annual campaign ensures kids have the nutrition they need during the summer months when school is not in session.
A Decade of Helping Kids
Last year, with COVID-19 restrictions in place and the economy reeling from the effects of the pandemic, Food from the Bar was dramatically downsized. While law firms raised funds, they couldn’t volunteer. As the county reopens this month, participating law firms are not only fundraising but volunteering to show their support for San Diego County kids and families. This year also marks the tenth year of the Food from the Bar campaign. Since the start of Food from the Bar, we have managed to raise over 1.3 million meals
Hundreds of thousands of kids could experience hunger in San Diego County. School meals play a vital role in ensuring these kids get the nutrition they need. With school out for summer, Feeding San Diego and its partners step in to provide meals to families in need at youth meal and school pantry sites directly in the community. Youth meal sites are located at places like rec centers and provide meals to kids daily, while school pantries are at schools in the San Diego Unified School District and provide nutritious boxes food for families to take home.
Much Needed Impact
We know that hunger has increased as a result of the pandemic and that there is a long road to full recovery ahead. Furthermore, this year’s Food From the Bar campaign has an overall goal of $20,000. This is to ensure that the programs that provide food to kids can continue on for many years to come. Of the six participating firms this year, one of them has stepped up in a big way. Frank J. Johnson, managing partner of Johnson Fistel, LLP, has put forth a $10,000 match for his Food from the Bar campaign. We spoke to Frank to learn more about why he is participating in Food from the Bar for the third year and is personally matching the funds his colleagues raise.
“I’ve always been passionate about the children who are in need. I was a court appointed special advocate for a couple years,” says Johnson. “This is a time that I know that many are suffering more because of the pandemic. It cried out to me that this is a time that I should step up a little bit more to help those who I can. Especially given the circumstances of the pandemic that adds to the hunger problems that San Diego faces.”
If you’re part of the legal community or know someone who might want to get involved, visit the Food from the Bar page here. If you’d like to contribute to Johnson Fistel, LLP’s campaign to meet Johnson’s match, visit the fundraising page here.
