Community
San Diego Food Bank
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH SDG & E ®
At San Diego Gas & Electric , our employees feel a strong sense of purpose beyond delivering clean , safe and reliable energy services to our 3.7 million customers . As part of our commitment to the communities we serve , we support a variety of initiatives through shareholder contributions , employee giving programs , and volunteerism . Our philanthropic priorities include : climate action , emergency preparedness and safety , economic prosperity , and diversity , equity , and inclusion . Many of our initiatives focus on advancing racial and gender equity in alignment with our company value to “ champion people .” We understand that in order for our region to thrive and become more sustainable , it ’ s important for all of us to do our part to ensure no one is left behind .
In rural parts of East County , families facing food insecurity must travel far distances to access grocery stores with nutritious foods such as fresh produce . Areas lacking supermarkets and nutritious food are called ‘ food deserts ’ by those in the food banking sector . Food deserts are defined as geographic areas where residents have limited or no convenient options for securing affordable and healthy foods — especially fresh fruits and vegetables .
In order to meet the significant unmet need for healthy , fresh food among those facing food insecurity in rural East
County , the San Diego Food Bank started its Mobile Food Pantry Program with support from community partners , including San Diego Gas & Electric ® and the Southern Indian Health Council ( SIHC ).
Since its start , the Food Bank ’ s Mobile Food Pantry Program has distributed nearly 79,000 pounds of fresh produce , meal kits and bread , as well as diapers and period products , to East County residents in need , many of whom live in hard-to-reach areas or are victims of natural disasters and Public Safety Power Shutoffs .
32 GBSAN . COM | NOVEMBER 2022