Each year the VFFA 4107 Charity Committee reaches out to their community and finds individual people, families, organizations and causes needing support. Through teamwork, they strive to strengthen the bonds of their community with selfless acts and generosity.
On Wednesday, April 21, 2020 the Fire Fighters delivered a check for $1000.00 to Vista Teen Outreach at TJ Crossmans Auto Repair, which had been transformed into a food distribution center. Many volunteers gathered to prepare food bags to be delivered to families at the local schools.
Debbie Medrano, Founder of Vista Teen Outreach, spoke with the North County Daily Star about the current challenges in feeding 200 families a week.
The following video shows the volunteers packaging the food items for delivery and the Vista Fire Fighters check presentation.
About Vista Fire Fighters Association Charity Committee
About Vista Fire Fighters Association (Local 4107)
The Vista Fire Fighters Association (Local 4107) represents the more than 73 full-time professional firefighters and paramedics who protect the residents and visitors of our hometown. Our members operate the City’s six fire stations and respond to over 14,000 incidents a year. These incidents require Vista Firefighters to call on their expertise in firefighting, emergency medical services, hazardous material operational and technical rescues. The Vista Fire Fighters Association provides the community with as high a level of service as possible. This includes not only our primary function of the protection of life, property, and the environment; but also public service in areas such as public education, fire prevention, and support of many other community services.https://vistafirefighters.com/
About Vista Teen Outreach
Vista Teen Outreach was formed in Fall of 2011, by three community members who heard of hungry students trying to play sports. They got together and started Hunger Hurts, which is known today as Vista Teen Outreach, Hunger Hurts. One of the founding members of that group remains today as the President. Our board is small but full of heart. If we can feed one hungry child, we know we are making a difference. Not only with their wellbeing but to keep them in school. We are servicing 14 Vista Middle/High Schools and we have a community liaison who delivers food to their adopted school on a weekly basis. The liaison works closely with the counselors, nurses and staff to be assured everyone on campus is aware of the pantry and that anyone who is hungry gets access to it. In the 2015-2016 school year there were 800 student’s identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. We were able to serve 350-400 of them on a monthly basis.
Why the school pantry is so critical to a child’s success?
Studies link food insecurity in children to lower test scores and academic failure.
Hungry children have trouble concentrating and struggle with behavioral issues in the classroom
Without sufficient nutrition, kids face a higher risk for developmental impairments.
Individuals that have struggled with food insecurity as a child suffer long-term effects, such as poor health and lack or readiness.
Grab any information from SD Food Bank Hunger Facts, Recommended Reading
vistateenoutreach.com
