SAN ARDO — Local oil company Aera Energy’s annual food drive yielded the equivalent of 14,250 pounds of food this year for the Food Bank for Monterey County.
Employees of Aera and its business partners, including Kings Oil Tools, Robert Heely Construction, Patriot Environmental, Lufkin and Key Energy, made monetary donations and filled boxes with a variety of canned goods throughout the year.
“It is a heartbreaking fact that one in four children in Monterey County receive services from the food bank over the summer. Without the school meal programs, far too many local children go hungry,” said Kathy Miller, Aera public affairs coordinator in San Ardo. “The food bank provides essential services and our partnership helps to build a stronger Monterey County.”
On July 10, employee volunteers were joined by Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez at the Food Bank for Monterey County distribution location in San Ardo. Together they helped to distribute food and bring smiles to those who waited in line for food to take home to their families.
Employees will also be distributing food Aug. 14 in King City.
“Aera continues to be a great supporter of the food bank, which is critical as we now serve 100,000 people annually — one-fifth of Monterey County’s population, over half of whom are children,” said Melissa Kendrick, Food Bank for Monterey County executive director. “We could not be successful without our wonderful corporate partners. It is not only the members of our community in need that inspire us in our work, but also the generosity of companies like Aera who support our mission to assuage hunger with meaningful nourishment.”
Over the past three years, Aera has donated the equivalent of 45,850 pounds of food to the Food Bank for Monterey County and participated in multiple community food distributions.
