Carmel volunteers feed students in need

CARMEL, Calif. (KION)

Members of the Carmel Unified School District and other community organizations are coming together to distribute food for students in need.

More than 150 bags and boxes of food will be distributed at Carmel High School today for students from schools all throughout the community.

Deliveries will also be made to those who could not leave their homes.

This effort was started by three CUSD staff members who said they knew the impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on some of their students.

"“We knew that once the schools closed that there were going to be people that rely on the schools for food and we were just really worried about what was going to happen when the students couldn’t come to get food every day," says Carmel High School Teacher Leigh Cambra.

"We just wanted to make sure that everybody had enough to eat."

Volunteers included staff, community members and local college students who spent hours putting together the boxes and bags.

CUSD Board Member, Tess Arthur says food banks and other local organizations are stepping up to donate things like produce, gallons of water, diapers and even monetary donations to provide additional items.

Arthur says families of many the students began reaching out after losing their jobs, asking for assistance.

With he help of the community, she says the volunteers could possibly expand to help more residents in need.

"It’s actually been a bright light during a dark time for me, I think Leigh feels the same. People actually come up to the vans for their boxes and are just so grateful," says Arthur.

The staff says these efforts will happen every Thursday and continue throughout the summer.

Deliveries and distributions will begin today between 10 am and 11:30 a.m.

For information on the distributions or to make a donation, visit thisclubsaveslives.org

To ask about specific needs like diapers, baby food and feminine products contact Tess Arthur at (831) 596-5170

For Spanish, call (831) 277-1292