Dozens of San Diegans attended a tree giveaway in Southeastern San Diego on Friday.

Trees, of course, sequester carbon and provide shade on a hot day, but in this case, there is a bonus: They also address food insecurity.

At the Ralph’s in the Bay Terraces neighborhood on Friday, a line formed around an easy-up tent. The supermarket partnered with Tree San Diego and the Arbor Day Foundation to gift 200 fruit trees at no cost.

“It not only makes it look more beautiful, but it provides more shade," Margarita Rueles said, talking about the warmer temperatures in El Cajon. "It’s really hot over there.”

Rueles said her mom saw a flier for free trees, and she came right down.

“We don’t have any trees right now, so I’ve always wanted to have my own fruit,” Rueles said.

Elektra Fike-Data,

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