Food Drive Underway To Help Coast Guard Families

ALAMEDA, CA — When the Coast Guard Cutter Munro returned to home port in Alameda on Christmas Eve it was greeted by joyous families happy to have their service member home after more than three months at sea. But those service members were also met by uncertainty — they aren't getting a paycheck. While the other branches of the military are under the US Department of Defense, the Coast Guard is under Homeland Security. It is one of the departments impacted by the partial government shutdown over funding a border wall.

The 42,000 active duty members of the Coast Guard continue rescuing stranded boaters, patrolling our ocean borders and other duties. But there is no guarantee that they will be paid for their work when a new budget is signed. And then there's the stress on their families over paying bills.

Local residents are stepping in to help. In a posting to a large Alameda Facebook group, Linda Chiu implored readers to lend a hand. She wrote, "For some, especially those with kids, things are getting pretty tough. The East Bay Coast Guard Spouses are collecting items in need to take some of the pressure off. Can you help?"

Here's a list of requested items:

• Non perishable items (boxed cereal, canned goods, peanut butter, jelly, rice, pasta, etc.)
• Gas and grocery gift cards
• Paper products (paper towels, toilet paper)
• Laundry detergent, dish detergent
• Toothpaste, soap, shampoo
• Diapers, baby wipes, formula
• Gift cards to local restaurants

Here are drop off donations:

• The Local, a coffee house at 1333 Park St, Alameda, 94501
• Alameda Island Brewing Company, 1716 Park St, Alameda, 94501
• Friends of The Alameda Animal Shelter, 1590 Fortmann Way, Alameda, 94501
• Rockwall Wine Company, 2301 Monarch St, Alameda, 94501
• Coast Guard Housing, 99 Mosley Ave, Alameda, 94501 - drop-off on Saturday, Jan. 12 only

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Also See:

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• Apple Has Over 600 Job Openings In The Bay Area Right Now
• Please Don't Help My Kids

— All photos via US Coast Guard, Photos by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Masaschi