The Southern California Region’s Spec Miata drivers raised $250 to be donated to a local Food Share program, and with matching funds from NASA SoCal Regional Director Mike Collins, brought the total to $500.
SoCal Spec Miata series leader popped in to drop off the donation with Jenifer Caldwell, Ventura County Food Share’s chief development officer in June.
“The reality is that many Americans are just one job loss or medical crisis away from food insecurity,” Caldwell said in a company video. “Even before the pandemic, roughly 75,000 or one in six Ventura County residents were considered food insecure. The vast majority of those are low-wage working individuals and families for whom illness, an unexpected expense or a steady-job loss means financial hardship that can rapidly lead to a struggle to put food on the table.”
According to Food Share, they can turn $10 into three meals for needy local families distributed through community partners such as food pantries, homeless shelters and hot meal sites, or via direct donation.
“We’ve all read about different NASA regions’ generous charity efforts around Christmas time, and I got inspired,” said SoCal Spec Miata series leader Brett Becker. “We’re fortunate to be able to get together and race cars with our friends, and I think it’s important to recognize our good fortune and to share it with others in some measurable way. I’m proud of our guys and thankful to Mike Collins for stepping up to contribute so generously. I hope we can do more of it.”
