SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- USO San Diego received a $100,000 grant that has expanded several food and nutrition programs to support military families across the country who have been impacted by the pandemic. The gift was provided by The San Diego Foundation COVID-19 Community Response Fund, in large part due to funding from San Diego Gas and Electric, said the non-profit in a release.
"Immediately following the stay-at-home order in our county, USO San Diego recognized the importance of sustaining our food distributions," said Ashley Camac, USO San Diego's Executive Director. "We wanted our military families to be confident the resources they depended upon would remain accessible."
The resources mentioned include grab-and-go bags of non-perishable items, a Thanksgiving meal kit giveaway, mobile farmers markets, and healthy breakfast options for military children participating in distance learning.
Currently, SDG&E has donated $2.5 million to the San Diego Foundation COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The utility company plans to contribute an additional $500, 000 in early 2021.
"Even without factoring in the impacts of the pandemic, military families face many stressors related to deployment and make great sacrifices to serve our country," said Eugene "Mitch" Mitchell, SDG&E's vice president of state governmental and external affairs. "Food insecurity is the last thing they should have to fear."
Since the pandemic, San Diego USO has served over 200,000 military members and their families.
