Program Expands to Feed More than 1,000 Unsheltered Homeless People Daily
SAN DIEGO, CA – August 20, 2020: The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) today announced that as of tomorrow, it has distributed over 100,000 meals since the May launch of its County-wide effort to distribute food and water to San Diego’s unsheltered homeless population.
This milestone has been achieved thanks to the vision and generous financial support of local philanthropist Gwendolyn Sontheim, who helped launch LDF’s Food and Water initiative in response to the life or death situation facing unsheltered individuals during the COVID-19 crisis. At launch the program served 400 individuals per day (providing two meals per day, seven days per week). The program now serves more than 1,000 individuals per day.
“The food and water distribution program provides life-saving sustenance and connection to services for our County’s unsheltered homeless,” said Dan Shea, LDF Board Member, Tuesday Group Co-Founder, and Partner of Paradigm Investment Group. “We continue to scale the program with the goal of serving every unsheltered homeless person in the community.”
The San Diego Sheriff’s Food Services Division of the Detention Services Bureau at their East Mesa Reentry Facility continues to be an integral partner, making, packing and delivering non-perishable meals plus water to LDF distribution points. Once delivered, twenty-four homeless outreach teams from twelve different social service agencies coordinated by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless pick up the meals to distribute the food and water to unsheltered individuals. Participating social service agencies include McAlister, HomeStart, Crisis House, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Vista Hill, Youth Assistance Coalition, Oceanside Homeless Resource, Project Overlay, Salvation Army, the YMCA and Veterans Village of San Diego.
In order to further expand the food and water program, Community Through Hope will serve as a meal distribution point, where outreach workers serving South, East and Central Counties can pick up the food and water. MJB Freight Systems, who has generously supported the initiative since its inception, will continue to be the distribution point for Central and North County outreach workers.
In addition to employing several homeless and formerly homeless individuals who help sort and load meals at the distribution points, the program will soon distribute COVID-19 prevention hygiene kits in partnership with the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency. Kits include hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, soap, water, a trash bag, COVID-19 informational postcard, behavioral health informational post card, and a face covering.
“Not only do the professional outreach teams deliver this much-needed nourishment and supplies, they also work to connect the homeless to shelter, housing and other critical services,” said Shea. “LDF’s mission is to alleviate the suffering of homelessness with the objective of helping the homeless end their homelessness. With this initiative, we are doing just that.”
In addition to the financial support of Gwendolyn Sontheim, who also chairs the Board of Feeding San Diego, the program is made possible by major donors including SDG&E, an anonymous donor, the Danna Foundation, Una Davis, the Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation, Bank of America, Carolyn & Paul Barber, Rob Tucker along with County funding from the District 4 Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant Program.
To view and/or download the video press release, please visit: https://bit.ly/2Ycl3Uh
This link includes 60-second produced video for use in story, post on your website and use on social channels.
Social Service providers interested in participating should contact the Lucky Duck Foundation at drewm@luckyduckfoundation.org.
To make a donation in support of this initiative, please visit: https://dev-luckyduck.pantheonsite.io/provide-food-and-water/
ABOUT THE LUCKY DUCK FOUNDATION
Since 2005, The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) has raised funds and awareness for numerous charitable causes throughout San Diego. In 2017, due to the growing homelessness epidemic, LDF pivoted to focus on providing aid and relief for individuals and families living without permanent housing. Since then, LDF and its co-founders, Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, have funded, led and activated several high-impact programs that alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County including bridge shelters, employment and job training, research, permanent supportive housing, outreach, and more.
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ABOUT THE TUESDAY GROUP
The Tuesday Group is a group of local business and civic leaders who convene every Tuesday to discuss best-in-class strategies and collaborations for helping San Diego County’s homeless. Led by Peter Seidler and Dan Shea, it has met every Tuesday since 2016. Weekly participants include Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny, Tom Mulvaney, Dan Novak, Debbie Ruane, Keith Jones, Jeff Martin, Mitch Mitchell, Michael Brunker, Dan Herbert, Peter Seidler, and Dan Shea.
For media inquiries, contact Drew Moser: drewm@luckyduckfoundation.org / (619) 417-1149.
