Print
As Orange County entered the long stretch of the coronavirus pandemic last summer, a contingent of nonprofit organizations, local restaurants, philanthropists and volunteers teamed up to provide fresh, hot meals to residents whose food options were scarce.
Delivering with Dignity Orange County created a framework where donors raised funds to pay a modest $6-per-meal price to independent restaurants, who took turns boxing up goods for an army of volunteer delivery drivers.
The meals went to clients of local assistance agencies who were at high risk for coronavirus and confined to their homes, did not qualify for other food programs and who otherwise had no support system or means of procuring food.
The Laguna Beach City Council approved $1.4 million in assistance for businesses and the community, including a grant program called “LB Cares” to provide financial relief to local restaurants, bars and retail businesses.
The Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach is also assisting with application submission and the delivery of the grants, which will be paid out primarily by checks and gift cards.
“Right now, we are in the darkest days of this pandemic and hundreds of local workers and residents have been laid off again,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said in a statement. “They are stretched to the breaking point to pay their rent, keep their utilities turned on and feed their families. I urge our community to do what it always does in times of crisis which is to rise to the challenge and raise $300,000 to match the city funds. Please dig deep and give what you can to help the cause.”