SoCalGas is bringing back its "Fueling Our Communities" program to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the utility is partnering with eight charities to provide free meals, groceries, and restaurant gift cards to thousands of Angelenos. The program, which is funded by a $325,000 donation by SoCalGas, also helps bring business to local restaurants.
The 2021 "Fueling Our Communities" program will run through the spring and make stops at 20 communities across Los Angeles County. Partners and communities under the 2021 "Fueling Our Communities" program include:
• TRUST South LA – South Los Angeles
• Human Services Association – Compton, Downey, Norwalk and Cudahy
• Friends of Cabrillo – Wilmington and San Pedro
• Catholic Charities – El Monte, Irwindale, Pomona, Rosemead and Duarte
• Alma Family Services – Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles
• LA Red Shield Community Center – Pico Union
• Community’s Child and El Camino College Foundation – Lomita, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Torrance, Carson and Compton
The first event under this program was hosted over the weekend at the Compton Woodley Airport in partnership with the Human Services Association, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, State Senator Steven Bradford, and Compton Councilwoman Tana McCoy. Meal kits, groceries and gift cards from local restaurants were distributed while following standard COVID-19 safety protocols.
"While the local economy is slowing bouncing back more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still great need,” said Andy Carrasco, vice president of communications, local government, and community affairs at SoCalGas. “We recognize this and brought our Fueling Our Communities program back for a second year because food insecurity continues to be a reality in many of our communities and local businesses are still struggling. We thank our community partners for joining us in this initiative.”
“At Human Services Association our mission is to promote wellness and build strong communities. That’s why, we are proud to partner with SoCalGas for a second year to help feed the most vulnerable members of our community and support local businesses,” said Darren Dunaway, director of senior services at Human Services Association.
“Many people depend on programs like Fueling Our Communities to provide food for their families,” said Tara Nierenhausen, executive director at Community’s Child. “We hope this initiative inspires others in the community to give back in whichever way they can to help those who need it most during this time.”
Last summer, SoCalGas launched the first Fueling Our Communities program across their service territory, providing 40,000 hot meals and nearly 8,000 gift cards to seniors, students, farm workers, and families. As a result, approximately 100 local restaurants benefitted from this initiative.
