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

California State Senator Christine Kehoe and California American Water distributed over 50 turkeys to local non-profit organizations on Tuesday, November 22, as part of the 21st 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,” Senator 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 publicly traded 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 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a year long campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.