36112,
20
March
2020
|
13:22 PM
America/Chicago

Calif. Members Helping Distribute Food to Needy Students

1st Lt. Jerry Camp
Public Affairs Officer
California Wing

More than 100 California Wing members are supporting the Los Angeles County Red Cross with food distribution at multiple sites on behalf of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The school district’s closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic affects approximately 405,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The county Red Cross agreed to provide meals and asked Civil Air Patrol for assistance.

California Wing members began Wednesday helping prepare, organize and distribute breakfast and lunch kits to the students at distribution points identified by the Red Cross. Starting at 7 a.m., they worked side-by-side with Red Cross and community volunteers to assemble and distribute the meals. Volunteers in 60 locations assembled and distributed 300 breakfast and 300 lunch meals to the communities around the schools. In all, the Red Cross provided 36,000 meals.

“It was a great experience,” said Maj. Jennifer Davenport, California Wing Group Eight commander. “People from all walks of life were coming together to help the community.”

Davenport and her team responded to Manual Arts High School from her home squadron in San Diego early Wednesday, assembling meals in the school cafeteria. Food was distributed at walk-through and drive-through locations.

“All (COVID-19) protocols for the protection of CAP members and the general public will be followed,”  Col. Ross Veta, wing commander, said before the distribution mission began. “At no time will CAP members have direct contact with the students.”