San Jose Water, CWA Team Up with Assemblyman Evan Low to Donate Thanksgiving Meals
San Jose Water Supports Operation Gobble
In the face of extraordinary economic hardship this year, many local residents are struggling to put food on the table. San Jose Water (SJW) is making sure needy residents in the greater San Jose area can still enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with the donation of 100 Safeway gift cards to The African American Community Service Agency (AACSA).
California Water Association (CWA) established the Operation Gobble program with the purpose of partnering water utilities with non-profit organizations across the state to donate frozen turkeys to families facing hardship. Due to COVID-19, SJW is going the route of grocery gift cards to ensure families can personally select their Thanksgiving food items.
“We are excited to participate in CWA’s Operation Gobble. We know the holidays can be tough, especially this year in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Our goal is to provide a helping hand year-round — making a positive impact on the health and wellness in the communities where we live, work and serve,” stated Andrew Gere, President and COO. “We appreciate the partnership with our elected officials and community organizations to ensure these gift cards find their way to those who need them the most.”
On Friday, Gere will personally deliver the gift cards to State Assembly member Evan Low, who represents District 28 in Silicon Valley.
“The pandemic has made every aspect of our lives more difficult, but it is exacting a particularly devastating toll on communities of color,” Low said. “We have seen the hardships on all fronts, from the loss of friends and family to business shutdowns and questions about when the next paycheck will arrive.” He also thanked SJW “for stepping up in this extraordinary time of need to assist the African American Community Service Agency, which has served a vital role in strengthening and celebrating the Black community here in Silicon Valley over the course of 42 years. We might not be able to gather for Thanksgiving and the holidays in our traditional manner, but I hope these donations bring some comfort to families in need.”
Gere and Assm. Low will meet at 10:00 am Friday, November 20, for a socially distanced exchange of the gift cards.
About San Jose Water
Founded in 1866, San Jose Water is an investor owned public utility, and is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water systems in the United States. Serving over one million people in the greater San Jose metropolitan area, San Jose Water also provides services to other utilities including operations and maintenance, billing, and backflow testing. San Jose Water is owned by SJW Group, a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SJW. SJW Group also owns: Connecticut Water Company in Connecticut; Maine Water Company in Maine; and SJWTX, Inc. (dba Canyon Lake Water Service Company) in Texas. To learn more about San Jose Water, visit www.sjwater.com.
Contact Information
Liann Walborsky
Director of Corporate Communications, San Jose Water
408-918-7247, liann.walborsky@sjwater.com