| PORT OF HUENEME — The Port of Hueneme, California, proudly hosted its annual Drive Out Hunger Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway (Nov. 17), providing 450 frozen turkeys and full holiday meal kits to active-duty military members and veterans from across Ventura County. The drive-thru event reflects the Port’s deep commitment to serving those who serve the nation. |
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Port of Hueneme Commissioners, executive leadership, staff, and partners work together to load a veteran’s car during the drive-thru event
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| Each meal kit included a frozen turkey, frozen pumpkin pie, canned string beans, canned corn, boxed stuffing, and boxed mashed potatoes- ensuring local military families can enjoy a complete Thanksgiving meal at home. |
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A volunteer offers a meal kit to an attendee, greeting him with a warm smile
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| The event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Lexus of Oxnard, Lexus of Santa Barbara, and BMW of Camarillo, whose contributions supported the purchase and distribution of all 450 meal kits. Port staff, volunteers, and community partners joined together to welcome service members and veterans as they drove through to receive their holiday groceries. |
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Partners holding pumpkin pies for distribution
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| “This event is one of the many ways we express gratitude to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Oxnard Harbor District Board President Jess Ramirez. “Supporting our military community is a core value of the Port of Hueneme, and we are honored to host this event year after year.”
“This Thanksgiving season, it was truly inspiring to see our teams from Lexus of Oxnard, Lexus of Santa Barbara, and BMW of Camarillo come together with the Port of Hueneme and our community partners to ‘Drive Out Hunger,’” said Anna Zielsdorf, BDC & Customer Relations Manager. “With gratitude in our hearts and a shared commitment to giving back, we were able to provide families with full holiday meal kits. When we work together, we can make a meaningful difference for the neighbors who need it most.” |
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Commissioner Jason Hodge helps partners load a car
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| Port team members were onsite to assist with distribution, greet attendees, and thank service members personally for their contributions to the nation. The Port has long partnered with regional organizations to support military families, veterans and its neighboring Naval Base Ventura County community. |
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The Port Team and partners pose for a group photo after a successful event
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| “The Port remains committed to lifting up our military families and ensuring they feel supported, especially during the holiday season,” said Kristin Decas, CEO & Director of the Port of Hueneme. “We are grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who helped make this event possible.”
This year’s Drive Out Hunger giveaway is part of the Port’s broader community outreach efforts, which include education programs, food distribution partnerships, and year-round support for local service organizations. |
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| About the Port of Hueneme: The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. Five locally elected Port Commissioners govern the Port. The Port consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. Ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating 25,000 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $236 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of Hueneme became the first Port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit. |
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