Community Corner

Wildomar, Lake Elsinore Provide Thanksgiving Meals To Military Families

The effort was part of Albertsons 2013 Giving Thanks campaign, which collected customer donations to purchase turkey dinners.

Thanks to the generosity of Albertsons customers, more than 1,000 military families will have a Thanksgiving meal at no cost to them.

The effort was part of Albertsons 2013 Giving Thanks campaign, which collected customer donations to purchase turkey dinners. The donations were collected by 86 stores throughout San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties during a three-week period that began Oct. 23.

Locally, Albertsons customers who shopped in Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula and Wildomar donated enough to serve 427 dinners to military families stationed at Camp Pendleton and March Air Reserve Base, according to Albertsons spokeswoman Lilia Rodriguez.

The local Albertsons stores that participated included the following six locations: 30901 Riverside Drive, Lake Elsinore; 23893 Clinton Keith Rd., Wildomar; 41000 California Oaks Rd., Murrieta; 39140 Winchester Rd., Murrieta; 30530 Rancho California Rd., Temecula; and 
31960 Temecula Pkwy., Temecula.

“Thanksgiving is a time for families to share a meal together and we’re thankful that others feel the same,” Albertsons Vice President of Operations Wendy Oliver said in a released statement.  

Operation Homefront helped Albertsons identify military units to receive the meals, which include a pre-cooked turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing.

“Many people don’t know that our service members and their families have financial needs that would go unmet without the generous support of the community,” Jack Chirrick, executive director of Operation Homefront – California, said in a released statement. “These are the men and women who defend our nation, and I can’t imagine them not being able to celebrate alongside the rest of America on Thanksgiving. Albertsons has really stepped up to help Operation Homefront ensure that military families have a meal to gather around, and I am deeply moved by their generosity.”

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers nationwide in providing emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. According to the organization, nationally, 95 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to programs that provide support to military families. 


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