Danny Long directs the steady stream of cars that pull into the Jamul Community Church parking lot around a makeshift path to where Melodee Takasugi greets drivers. She keeps her distance as drivers roll down windows, but cheerfully greets each one then determines how many boxes of food they need to ensure their family is fed for the week.
“Before all this, we’d typically give out 250 to 275 boxes of food. Last week we counted 462 families. There is a huge need right now but we’re here and happy to be able to do it,” Takasugi said.
Long says the food distribution program has been going on for 11 years in partnership with Feeding America.
“We have this every Thursday from 10 to 3:30 but we’ve changed what we’re doing so it is now a drive through with face coverings and gloves and such. We’ve had to make adjustments like we’re loading on the curb and then they put the box in their trunk,” Long said.
He chuckles.
“Trucks are our favorite.”
Takasugi cuts in from where she is keeping pace with the incoming cars and rattles off a handful of east county neighborhoods when asked where the cars seem to come from:
“Jamul, Dulzura, Spring Valley, El Cajon, Alpine, Lakeside, Santee—everywhere. We have singles, we have families, we have blended families.
It’s everyone, young families with little kids. We’ve got some who are in their nineties. We have pregnant ladies,” Takasugi said. Long glances at the folding tables placed under a sunshade against the threat of rain from an overcast sky. He eyes the boxes lined up and waiting for distribution, then says today’s boxes include a head of cabbage, a bottle of coconut water, potatoes, carrots, a box of Perfect bars, and a bag of popcorn.
“We never really know what we’re going to get but every family who shows up gets a box, typically produce,” Long said.
