SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — CBS 8 partnered with Navy Federal Credit Union and Support The Enlisted Project (S.T.E.P.) again in 2024 to collect and distribute personal care items for our military families in San Diego County.
The 2024 drive took place from Monday, April 29th through Friday, May 31st. Donations were made at the 27 San Diego County Navy Federal branches throughout the region.
The 2024 distribution event took place on Saturday, June 8 at S.T.E.P. headquarters in San Diego. Thousands of personal care items were distributed by volunteers to local military families.
This year CBS 8 viewers donated more than 7,000 personal care items, which was even more than last year’s inaugural event. Those items were then distributed to approximately 600 local military members and their families.
Items accepted during the donation window included: Diapers, Bath Soap, Body Lotion, Dental Floss, Deodorant, Dish Soap, Disposable Razors, Foot Powder, Hand Soap, Laundry Soap/Pods, Shampoo, Conditioner, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste, and Toothbrushes.
Bags for the Brave 2023:
Donations for the Bags for the Brave were handed out on Saturday, June 3rd. Our CBS 8 team along with STEP volunteers joined together to make sure families got to go home with the items collected.
Over 6,000 donations were collected and nearly 400 families received these items.
Some families who took part in the donation drive say these events raise awareness for other troops who are in the same boat but don’t always know where to find resources.
An active duty Marine told CBS 8, “It helps in ways that we don't really get when we are on base. Kind of supporting the families with things they might need, but are scared to ask for. Or stuff that they didn’t know they needed until they came to these events.”
Bags for the Brave is a great way to salute our military and give back to those who serve.