San Diego Food Bank Sends Emergency Aid To Orange County After Hazardous Chemical Incident

SAN DIEGO, CA — Thousands of emergency food boxes are headed from San Diego to Orange County this week after a hazardous chemical incident in Garden Grove disrupted operations at the OC Food Bank.

Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank staff and volunteers were assembling 3,500 food boxes for Orange County's Senior Food Program, along with diapers and other essential items for affected families. A truck carrying the supplies was scheduled to leave the organization's Miramar warehouse early Wednesday morning.

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The San Diego Food Bank said it plans to provide up to 5,000 emergency food boxes per week for as long as the emergency continues. The Community Action Partnership of Orange County, which operates the OC Food Bank, has been unable to fully operate due to evacuation impacts connected to the hazardous chemical incident.

"Food banks are part of the emergency response infrastructure for our communities," San Diego Food Bank CEO Casey Castillo said in a statement. "We are proud to support our neighbors in Orange County because we understand that when one region is in crisis, we come together to help however we can."

The San Diego Food Bank has supported regional disaster response efforts during past crises, including providing more than 98,000 pounds of food and supplies to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank following the 2025 wildfires.