Pack the Pantry drive funds more than 33,000 student meals

California Coast Credit Union announced that the seventh annual Pack the Pantry virtual food drive raised $16,819 in October, which it said will provide more than 33,000 meals for community college students facing food insecurity.

According to Cal Coast, the drive is run with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties. The credit union cited research that nearly half of local community college students lack consistent access to food. Kyra Seay, Cal Coast vice president of community relations, said the timing was meant to help campus pantries before the holidays and amid expected federal food-aid cuts.

Southwestern College superintendent and president Dr. Mark Sanchez, speaking as chair of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association, said the funds support campus pantry resources. San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo said the food bank would coordinate delivery to campus pantries. SDICCCA represents Southwestern, San Diego, Grossmont-Cuyamaca, Palomar, MiraCosta, and Imperial Valley colleges, serving more than 206,000 students, according to the announcement. Donations to the food bank were directed to sdfoodbank.org.

The original announcement was issued by California Coast Credit Union via PR.com. Read the source.