Newsom deploys National Guard

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced the deployment of California National Guard members to provide short-term food security to isolated and vulnerable Californians.

The move comes a day after a shelter-in-place was ordered across the state.

There is a National Guard unit in Eureka that was part of the thousands put on alert earlier this week. It’s unclear the size of the unit.

“It’s in these times of crisis that Californians are at their best, coming to the aid of those in their community who are most in need,” he said in a statement.

Due to COVID-19, many food banks have been affected by a significant decline in volunteerism, impacting logistical and local infrastructure for food distribution. The California Guard will initially deploy personnel and equipment to a food bank distribution warehouse in Sacramento County starting Friday, and will conduct immediate site assessments statewide for those counties that have requested short-term support and stabilization.

The short-term assistance from the California National Guard allows time to mobilize AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps and Local Conservation Corps members, and other volunteers where counties have identified serious gaps.

The Administration is partnering with the social networking service Nextdoor to provide information to California communities about the state’s response to COVID-19.

County distributes 20K lunches

Humboldt County schools may be closed to normal on site operations, but the staff continues to meet student and community needs. The districts are pulling together to deliver meals and supplies to students from one end of the county to the other.

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, Humboldt County districts and schools ceased on-site operations March 16, and have been preparing for next steps.

School districts across the region have been ramping up a variety of essential services, including providing meals to children and youth through pick-up centers in front of schools, meal deliveries, bus stops, and other designated locations.

Meals are provided for any child, 18 years and younger, regardless of free or reduced eligibility. In addition, many districts are collaborating to provide meals to those students in the community where they live, even if they attend school outside their districts of residence.

All districts have reported that the number of meals being distributed continues to grow each day.

At this point, children must be present in order to receive meals at any designated site so districts can keep track of distribution numbers.

“This effort truly showcases the amazing resiliency of our school personnel to provide essential services to our students despite this unprecedented situation we are all in,” said Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools Chris Hartley in a statement.

For a complete list of all districts meal times and distribution locations, go to https://hcoe. org/covid-19-2/schoolmeal-times-and-locations/.