California American Water Teams with State Senator Christine Kehoe for “Operation Gobble”

California State Senator Christine Kehoe and California American Water will donate and distribute over 60 turkeys to local non-profit organizations on Tuesday, November 23, as part of the 20th annual “Operation Gobble” program.

Operation Gobble is a joint venture between California water companies and state legislators that delivers an estimated 30,000 turkeys to at-risk families throughout the state this Thanksgiving holiday.

“Sharing food with family and friends at Thanksgiving is something we all cherish and ‘Operation Gobble’ keeps that tradition going for many families in our region,” Kehoe said. "I’m grateful for California American Water’s generosity and the comfort they helped bring to families struggling this holiday season.”

Since 1990, the program has paired the resources of the private and public sectors to benefit those in need. Participating investor-owned water companies, such as California American Water, provide turkeys and delivery services in partnership with local elected officials who offer expertise in directing the donations to community food banks, churches and other non-profit organizations.

According to the latest study of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research on hunger, 2.9 million Californians lack sufficient resources to feed themselves on a regular basis. Many of these residents are low income families that will not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal.

California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people. California American Water’s San Diego County service district includes approximately 21,000 households and businesses and serves a population of about 95,000 people, in the cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach, south Chula Vista, and parts of south San Diego.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 16 million people in 35 states, as well as Ontario and Manitoba, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.