Encinitas Rotary helps ‘Feed the Marines’ at Camp Pendleton

More than 400 Marines downed 1,200 hot dogs at the annual “Feed the Marines” program hosted by the Encinitas Coastal Rotary on Oct. 9.

The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club has this drill down. This is the third year the Rotarians participated in the “Feed the Marines” program organized on the Camp Pendleton base, where new recruits are treated to a hot dog lunch with cookies and drinks at the end of their 59-day course in Infantry Training Battalion (ITB).

“We showed up, on another record hot day, at Camp Pendleton’s Concrete Beach, a large, flat concrete area with absolutely no shade,” said Donna Marie Robinson, Rotarian event organizer. “It was a scorching day on base, which made the grilling process a bit challenging — but the young Marines were there in full uniform and formation waiting to eat.”

Robinson added, it was a true pleasure to spend a bit of time with those young men and be so touched by their kindness and appreciation. One recruit commented “Ma’am, this is the best meal I have had in weeks. Thank you!” More than 800 cookies were donated by Trader Joe’s in Encinitas.

If you want to show those young, courageous men how much they are appreciated by volunteering, feel free to contact the “Feed the Marines” program organizer Diana Mangulabnan at diana@camppendletonasymca.org.

Want to know more about what the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club does for our community and abroad? Join them for a fun lunch at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays at Firefly Restaurant in Encinitas or visit https://encinitascoastalrotary.org.