NOVATO – (January 19th, 2019) As the government shutdown extends into its fourth week, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is stepping up to assist federal employees who have gone weeks without a paycheck.
“We are partnering with a group of about 150 US Coast Guard families in Novato in a wide-scale food distribution effort this weekend,” says Food Bank spokesman Mark Seelig. “We will be delivering 7 pallets of fresh groceries this weekend to help these families get through these lean times. In addition, our CalFresh enrollment team will be on hand to help eligible families sign up for benefits.”
“We are overwhelmed with thankfulness,” said Coast Guard wife, Meghan. “With our kids being so young, I work just a few hours a week, so we rely on my husband’s income to cover most of our bills. Not getting his paycheck last week has already caused us a little bit of hurt. And the prospect of not getting the next paycheck is really scary.”
These Coast Guard families held their own food drive last weekend and collected thousands of pounds of nonperishable items, diapers, and cleaning supplies. The fresh groceries from the Food Bank’s pantry will supplement the distribution of these items.
About the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where one in four neighbors is at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone can obtain enough nutritious food in a dignified manner to support the health and well-being of themselves and their families. We address hunger head on: from our pantry network and home-delivered groceries, to our nutrition-education classes and CalFresh food-stamp enrollment, we work in many ways to nourish and empower neighbors in need. Every week, 30,000 households count on us for food assistance. Nearly 60 percent of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Learn more at www.sfmfoodbank.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mark Seelig
Public Relations Manager – San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
(office) 415-282-1907 ext. 270; (cell) 415-246-9146
mseelig@sfmfoodbank.org
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