Rows of oranges, lemons, potatoes and onions stretched across the warehouse as more than 500 volunteers worked side by side, filling thousands of bags for residents across affordable housing communities in San Diego.
Led by the Allgire Foundation, Spring Harvest is an annual effort that brings fresh, healthy food directly to residents. This year, 20,000 bags were packed, 160,000 pounds of produce were distributed and more than 250 communities were reached.
National CORE and Hope through Housing employees joined volunteers from across the region, working for hours to prepare the bags. Throughout the week, that effort reached residents across 25 National CORE communities in San Diego, expanding access to fresh, nutritious food where it is needed most.
“Many people are hurting right now,” said John Seymour, a senior vice president for National CORE. “The cost of living in California continues to rise, and for some families, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep up. This support can help ease that burden.”
For Stephanie De La Torre, regional director for Hope through Housing in San Diego, this year’s event carried added urgency.
“With rising costs and reductions in programs like CalFresh, our residents are facing real challenges,” she said. “Efforts like this go a long way, especially for seniors and those in supportive housing. It’s about coming together and addressing food insecurity as a community.”
That shared effort continues to drive Spring Harvest forward. For Allgire Foundation Executive Director Scott Silber, the event is designed to bring attention to a growing issue.
“It’s expensive to eat healthy, and it’s hard to eat healthy,” he said. “Being able to provide fresh food to residents who need it most means everything to us.”
For residents, that impact is felt in everyday moments.
“When I arrived home to see a bag of fruits and vegetables on my doorstep, I was so grateful,” said Ninfa Rocha of Shadow Hill. “It feels so good to know we’re cared for.”