Drive-Thru Days: Dodgers Foundation transitions from the baseball diamond to the front lines to deliver thousands of meals to Angelenos
Seizing an opportunity to help support families who are homebound during COVID-19, the Los Angeles Dodger Foundation (LADF) partnered with Helping Hands Community (HHC) and Uber to deliver over 22,000 meals to more than 400 homes in Inglewood and Hawthorne this July. Aptly named Drive-Thru Days for its “drive-thru” model, the coordinated events coincided with the return of MLB to our television screens and involved the packing, loading, and dropping off of food boxes to the homes of Dodgers RBI families.
“We are proud to bridge the Helping Hands Community last-mile delivery platform with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation; and, through our partnership to enable food delivery to thousands of families who cannot safely and reliably access groceries during the pandemic,” Helping Hands Community CEO and Co-Founder Jeff Miller shared with Sports Illustrated.
Volunteers packed boxes full of nutritious dairy, fruit, and vegetables, as well as Smart & Final gift cards and household items such as wipes and hand sanitizer, before loading them up into vehicles to be sent out for delivery.
Traditionally, the Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program enhances youth development through sports by providing equipment such as bats, balls, and gloves so that inner-city kids have a chance to play a real game of baseball. When COVID-19 put sports on pause — suspending any on-the-field programming — LADF’s attention turned to the families in their network who were facing heightened food insecurity due to the pandemic. They saw an opportunity to help alleviate some of that strain and set in motion a plan for Drive-Thru Days. As a result, LADF — along with Helping Hands and Uber Eats — worked together to deliver 300 boxes to families in Inglewood and 100 boxes to families in Hawthorne who are currently registered in their Dodgers RBI sports-based youth development program.
“Prior to the pandemic we were already on the ground in these communities that need support the most,” said Tiffany Rubin, LADF Director of Youth Programs. “Our Dodgers RBI families have been hit extremely hard by this pandemic. As we shift from relief to recovery, it is important to meet our families in their communities and listen to what they need to help them thrive. We are proud to partner with parks and recreation departments, Dodger team sponsors and donors to launch this series complementing our ongoing Dodgers RBI virtual season.”
Looking for a way to get involved? The LADF is accepting donations and food deliveries to support underprivileged communities in L.A. facing food insecurity. They’ve also partnered with organizations like iHeartMedia L.A., Los Angeles Dodgers, and others to provide grants to provide support for the homeless, low-income families and frontline workers during the pandemic.
Visit their website if you’re interested in learning more and volunteering.
