SAN DIEGO — Feeding San Diego held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss additional emergency food distribution options in San Diego County during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the organization, new methods of food distribution include drive-through and drop-and-go models to ensure appropriate social distancing. Feeding San Diego works in partnership with 300 community partners.
Feeding San Diego announced on Tuesday that it would add five new distribution sites to keep up with demand:
South: 3/17/20 | 2:00 p.m. Community through Hope , 465 C St, Chula Vista, CA 91910
North Inland: 3/18/20 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Community Food Connection 14047 Twin Peaks Rd., Poway, CA 92064
North Coastal: 3/19/20 | 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Location: Brother Benno Foundation Address: 3260 Production Ave., Oceanside, CA 92058
East: 3/20/20 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Salvation Army El Cajon 1025 E Main St., El Cajon, CA 92021
Central: 3/21/20 | 10:00 a.m. Labor Council SDCCU Stadium, 9449 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108 Northeast Lot
To find food grown and manufactured in your neighborhood, text “food” or “comida” to 877-877 to find the nearest site, or call 211 to talk to a resource specialist about summer meal sites or other local food resources.
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“Feeding San Diego is working diligently to get food to people who are facing hunger, many of whom are experiencing food insecurity for the first time due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Vince Hall, the organization's CEO. “We are implementing a series of regional emergency food distributions to ensure children, seniors, and families can access the food they need to endure this devastating crisis.”
You can watch the entire conference here:
If you have extra food you would like to donate to people in need, click here.
BACKGROUND:
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
The CDC also says facemasks should only be used by people who show symptoms of the virus. If you’re not sick, you do not have to wear a facemask. The CDC says the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low.