F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
CASA PACIFICA CENTERS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
A California Non-profit 501(C)(3)
Contact: Carrie Hughes
Phone: 805-366-4011
Email: chughes@casapacifica.org
For: Assignment Editor
Casa Pacifica Receives 86 Thanksgiving Turkey Dinners for Its Children and Families
Camarillo, CA November 23, 2016 – With the generous efforts of Aera Energy, Golden State Water Company, and the Casa Pacifica Angels auxiliary, Casa Pacifica was able to distribute 86 Thanksgiving dinners, complete with all the fixings, to families in its community-based programs, youth living in the agency’s transitional housing, and to Casa Pacifica alumni, making this holiday a truly happy celebration of giving thanks. Some of the turkeys and trimmings will also feed the children living on Casa Pacifica’s campus this holiday.
On Friday, November 18th, Golden State Water Company employees delivered 52 turkeys to Casa Pacifica’s doorstep. Golden State Water is partnering with elected officials and community leaders throughout the state during November to distribute more than 8,000 turkeys through the Operation Gobble effort. “We appreciate this partnership with Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, and are proud of the impact the Operation Gobble program has had in our communities. Food insecurity is a problem that affects 1 in 7 Californians[1] and we hope that today’s event will provide holiday meals for families with limited resources,” said Ronald Moore, Golden State Water’s Operation Gobble project leader. “Operation Gobble has been a Golden State Water tradition for 26 years, and we have partnered with elected officials and community leaders to distribute more than 216,000 turkeys since the program’s inception.”
The Golden State Water Company turkeys were paired with a donation of three more turkeys and a huge supply of all the items needed to complete a traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu provided by the Casa Pacifica Angels.
On Monday, November 21st Produce Available, a Casa Pacifica supporter, donated employees and a refrigerated truck to pick up the donation of 31 turkeys and perishable trimmings on behalf of Aera Energy and delivered it to Casa Pacifica. Aera Energy employees also arrived at Casa Pacifica with 31 boxes filled with everything a family of six needs to prepare a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Employees donated canned and dry goods (flour, canned yams, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, etc.) along with an aluminum turkey roasting pan and pie pan, for the 31 families. Along with providing the turkeys, the company topped off each box with bread, fresh vegetables and whipped topping for the pumpkin pie!
This is a new Thanksgiving Food Drive tradition for Aera Energy and its employees in Ventura. “We’re excited to support this program” said Michele Newell, Aera Energy spokesperson. “Giving to the community through charitable causes and employee involvement are a focus for Aera – it’s part of what we’re founded upon, it’s in our DNA – and we look forward to making this an ongoing tradition.”
Casa Pacifica employees spent the next two days delivering all the Thanksgiving dinners to the families, alumni, and transitional youth Casa Pacifica serves. With the generosity and help of Golden State Water Company, Aera Energy, and the Casa Pacifica Angels, the children, families, and youth that Casa Pacifica serves are able to fully enjoy the spirit behind Thanksgiving – Gratitude – along with a great meal!
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About Golden State Water Company
At Golden State Water Company, it has been all about water for more than 80 years. Our team of professionals delivers reliable, quality water and great service to customers in 76 communities across California. We worry about water so you don’t have to. As an investor owned utility, shareholders provide an important source of capital that allows Golden State Water Company to make needed system investments and improvements for the benefit of our customers. Being a profitable company ensures a lower investment cost and a solid funding source for infrastructure improvements. Efficient water use is one of the best ways to maintain a reliable source of high quality drinking water, now and in the future, and helps our customers manage their water bills. Golden State Water Company is a public utility in California and is a wholly owned subsidiary of American States Water Company. The company is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Public Health and the California Public Utilities Commission. Golden State Water values customer input and appreciates the influence customers and all stakeholders have in the ratemaking and regulatory process.
About Aera Energy – Ventura
Aera Energy is proud to be a respected and responsible California oil company accounting for nearly 25 percent of the state’s oil production. Headquartered in Bakersfield, Aera is known for excellent safety and environmental performance, innovative business practices, application of cutting-edge technology, a dynamic company culture and active community involvement. With operations centered in the San Joaquin Valley, much of Aera’s oil production comes from Kern County, Aera also has active oil field operations in Ventura, Monterey and Fresno Counties and is in the permitting process to redevelop the East Cat Canyon oilfield in northern Santa Barbara County.
About Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families
Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in both counties and along with its campus-based programs administers a number of community-based programs which are designed with the intent to strengthen families and keep children in their homes. For more information about Casa Pacifica or to learn about its “Building New Foundations of Hope” Capital Campaign that is underway, please visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at (805) 445-7800.
[1]California Association of Food Banks, “Hunger Fact Sheet”, http://www.cafoodbanks.org/hunger-factsheet