Representatives from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Joined KTLA team members, including the talented Erin Myers, at the Citadel Outlets in Commerce and accepted food and financial donations from visitors and shoppers. More than $100,000 were collected.
Individuals were not the only ones demonstrating generosity at the Food Drive – Corporate Social Responsibility was on display too. NORMS Restaurants, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, First General Bank and Gibson Overseas all participated in on-air check presentations with key members of the Food Bank team, including President and CEO, Michael Flood.
Some of the Citadel’s stores also participated, including Levi’s LAZ Parking and Swarovski, all of whom made food donations.
The KTLA Take 5 to Care Food Drive has been an annual holiday tradition for the past few years, and has generated almost $300,000 for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The Food Bank requires funds to store, transport and safely distribute food to members of our community who need it most. Take 5 to Care has also generated tens of thousands of pounds of food which is then transported back to the Food Bank, sorted by volunteers, and distributed through the Food Bank’s network of more than 600 partner agencies.
In Los Angeles County, one in five people face food insecurity, according to a California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) administered by the UCLA Center for Health Policy. Of the roughly two million people who struggle with food insecurity, it is estimated that 573,000 are children.
Thanks to generous individuals and companies, more of our neighbors will enjoy healthy holiday meals this season. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working diligently to meet the increasing need in our community and is on track to deliver more food in 2019 than ever before. Food-insecurity remains a critical issue, but by coming together, we can make significant differences in the lives of people who otherwise would go hungry.