State Assemblyman Luis Alejo, San Benito County’s representative, announced his donation of $1,500 in gift certificates to local charities for Thanksgiving turkeys.
Alejo’s office sent the following announcement Friday:
Today, Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), in partnership with the California Water Service Company (Cal Water), distributed 100 gift certificates of $15 good for the purchase of a Thanksgiving Turkey to multiple local charities. This event is part of an annual state-wide effort by Cal Water called the Operation Gobble Program.
“Operation Gobble is a reminder of the importance to give back to the community and to help ensure the less fortunate, still has the celebratory experience that brings us all together.” says Alejo.
This year, the six local charities chosen to distribute the gift certificates were the California Rural Legal Assistance Indigenous Worker Project, the Salinas American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Gilroy Compassion Center, San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Los Padres Elementary Community and the Day Workers Center of Santa Cruz County.
“We appreciate the opportunity to be a recipient of Operation Gobble 2014 and together with Assemblymember Luis Alejo, extend our services to day workers on this Thanksgiving holiday. Workers will have one less thing to feel stressed about and one more gift to share with their family and friends during the season of minimal job opportunities” comments Mireya Gomez-Contreras.
During the selection process of the 2014 Turkey Giveaway Silvia Huerta of AARP stated, “AARP is proud of Assemblymember Luis Alejo and pleased with all the work he has done. He is a humble individual who supports and fights for the rights of the community. We will continue supporting him because he truly looks in the best interest of those in need.”
With federal cuts to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Operation Gobble is particularly important in making up for lost resources in communities around the state. According to California Food Policy Advocates, Monterey County alone has 46,046 participants in CalFresh—California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
