Volunteers In Pleasanton Prepare Thousands Of Meals For Somalis
PLEASANTON (KCBS) – The famine in Somalia has struck a chord with people around the globe, including here in the Bay Area.
Thousands of meals are being prepared by volunteers with Kids Against Hunger in Pleasanton. Among the volunteers is 10-year-old Rebecca Lawrence who is just looking to help out those starving in Africa.
"It's really sad. I'm just happy to help," she said.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
An estimated 75,000 meals are being prepared for shipment to Kenya. From there, they will be delivered to Mogadishu, Somalia.
Sherri Leal of Kids Against Hunger said she has heard of reports of food aid that has gone into the "black market" and been kept from the hungry.
"We are specifically working with organizations that are getting it through," Leal said. "World Help is one of the companies. We've gotten proof that they've gotten it through. It's hard finding those people but there are groups that are getting it in."
The United Nations reports that more than three million Somalis need food aid after a severe drought has stricken the country.
U.S. officials said almost 30,000 Somali children under the age of five have already died.
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