"For the Second Harvest of Silicon Valley food bank in Santa Clara County, the California National Guard were lifesavers during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, said CEO Leslie Bacho. Some 200 Guard troops filled in for the nonprofit's hundreds of volunteers who were under stay-at-home orders. They packed, loaded and distributed meals to people who suddenly found themselves out of work or in desperate need of help to feed themselves and their families."
"In the past four months, the Trump administration has ordered the National Guard to play an increasing role in its widening crackdowns on immigration and violent crime in cities around the United States. This timing, therefore, raises concerns that the presence of federal uniformed troops at food-distribution sites could be scary for certain low-income populations. Just in this moment there's a lot of fear and concern in the community, Bacho said."
The California National Guard provided lifesaving support to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 200 troops filling in for hundreds of volunteers who were under stay-at-home orders. Troops packed, loaded and distributed meals to people suddenly out of work or in desperate need. Governor Gavin Newsom offered National Guard assistance again to help food banks cope with a potential influx caused by delays in federal food assistance during a government shutdown. Recent orders directing the Guard to participate in immigration and violent-crime crackdowns raise concerns that uniformed troops at distribution sites could scare low-income and immigrant populations. Some food banks say warehouses could accept help but many currently have sufficient volunteers, and others report no current need though circumstances could change.
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