The Covid-19 Pandemic has had an impact on the world and we are seeing it locally here in Cambria. We have had to cancel the yearly Pinedorado event, which included the parade, car show, follies, and entertainment/food at the Pinedorado Grounds. Be assured it will be back in full force next year.

We have had to also cancel our normal bi-weekly meetings and look to the future when we can begin them again.

During this crisis the Cambria Lions has responded to the communities needs, with the following help from the local restaurants.

On April 14th the Lions Prepared Food Project in Cambria and San Simeon kicked off with the first meals delivered by San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, followed closely by Linn’s and Robin’s. Then on May 4th, the program expanded to add a meal each week with West End Bar & Grill, Madeline’s and Manta Rey joining in. The meals prepared and delivered by the six participating restaurants were all high quality and gratefully received by each and every family. We are pleased with all those involved including: Suzy McDonald who devised the idea; Iggy Fedoroff who arranged for initial funding from the Pinedorado Lions Foundation; SLO County District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson who approved a grant of Community Funds; Aaron Linn who coordinated with his fellow restaurant owners to provide meals at each restaurant’s cost; Miguel and Judy Sandoval, Tala Romero, Suzanne Kennedy, Jim Cunningham and Abel Martinez who were the community members handing meals out to the deserving families with food insecurities; Shanny Covey of Robin’s, the Sandovals of San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, Gary Neal of West End Bar & Grill, David Stoothoff of Madeline’s and Theresa and Miguel de Alba of Manta Rey for providing the nutritious meals; and, Carole Brooks who collected donations and promptly paid invoices to each restaurant.

As California relaxed restrictions, more and more families returned to work. While the Lions continued accepting donations through July 15th, it was decided to phase out providing meals prepared by our six restaurants effective June 30th with the last meals provided by West End Bar & Grill in Cambria and San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill in San Simeon. Remaining donations will be held in reserve for future food insecurity needs within our community.

More than 7,500 individual meals were served over the two and a half months the program was in being. With the Lions Board authorizing matching donations after the initial “seed money” from the Lions and the County, the Lions match ended up at almost $42,000.