Facing a “tsunami of need” as one food bank director said, Gov. Gavin Newsom called up the National Guard Friday to assist deliveries at the state’s food banks.
Grappling with the coronavirus pandemic crisis, the governor said the executive order will provide short-term food security to isolated and vulnerable Californians and the short deployment will help to stabilize the immediate need of food banks.
The governor’s office noted that many food banks have been affected by a significant decline in volunteerism, impacting logistical and local infrastructure for food distribution. The California Guard will initially deploy personnel and logistical equipment to a food bank distribution warehouse in Sacramento County and will conduct immediate site assessments statewide for those counties that have requested short-term support and stabilization.
This short-term assistance from the California National Guard allows time to mobilize AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps and Local Conservation Corps members, and other volunteers where counties have
identified serious gaps, the governor’s office said.
The Contra Costa-Solano Food Bank has also begun planning new distribution locations. The food bank stated online, “There will be supplemental distributions starting next week utilizing our first drive-thru food assistance method. We are so thankful for the volunteers who stepped up to put together 1,000 of our new emergency food boxes on Thursday.” The Contra Costa food group has a warehouse located in North Concord.
Thank You Guardspeople for helping those in need. Most Guardsfolk have other jobs in the real world and do this voluntarily, they too have families to care and worry about. Wish them and our other military folks well.
Thank you national guard
Many thanks to all the California National Guard who are helping. Stay safe while doing this.