Intent on providing meals for families in need, the Anaheim, Orange, Cherry and 7th Street Neighborhood Association (AOC7) is hosting its second annual Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
The food giveaway will take place at the Museum of Latin American Art and will serve 200 Long Beach families this year, AOC7 board member Mary Simmons said.
Registration for the dinner giveaway is required and can be accessed here.
“I feel blessed,” Simmons said of organizing the event. “It’s a blessing to be a part of it. I love the smiles.”
Some of the returning partners include local non-profit Help Me Help You and Long Beach Forward.
Nourishing Neighbors partner Vons will sponsor 100 turkeys for the distribution and the Church of Latter-Day Saints will donate beef and pork roast with side dishes such as mashed potatoes and gravy.
“Some families don’t eat turkey, sometimes a turkey is too big for a family so we’ll probably say like ‘turkey or roast?’ but they’re going to get all the sides to go with it,” Simmons said.
The primarily drive-through event will also offer families pie (pumpkin or apple) to complete their meals.
Aside from the food distribution, other community resources will be available for families such as information on the food program CalFresh.
“We just try to make it fun,” Simmons said. “We’re just happy to serve.”
Recently, it was brought to Simmons’ attention that an expecting mother in the community needed a turkey and reached out. When the community member responded with joy over the holiday meal, Simmons remembered why the event was created.
“That’s all you [need] to hear to make you feel like ‘Yes, I’m doing the right thing,’” the board member said.
Ahead of the Nov. 23 event, AOC7 will partner with Food Finders on Sunday, Nov. 21 to distribute 40 turkeys and other food items for AOC7 neighbors.
AOC7 started doing food distributions and giveaways in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think a lot of us answered the call to help with food insecurity, especially in our neighborhood, it’s underserved, under-resourced, undernourished,” Simmons said.
What started as gift card distributions in spring 2020 grew into a drive-thru food pantry at Mark Twain Library.
Last year’s Thanksgiving distribution saw 440 turkeys provided to families in need.
“I love it because it’s more like a heart issue,” Simmons said of the eagerness of its partners to participate, including The Long Beach Green Room. “All we have to do is reach out and people are just wanting to give, they make room for it.”
AOC7 in the community year-round
Simmons noted that AOC7 is active in the community year-round, something that earned them the “Non-profit of the Year” award by Senator Lena Gonzalez representing the 33rd District.
In late October, the neighborhood organization hosted a COVID-19 vaccination event at Lincoln Elementary in partnership with DAYS Long Beach, Centro CHA and other local organizations.
The event also included a food, diaper and school supply distribution and Halloween treats for children.
As the organization continues to host its food pantries, it is also looking forward to its partnership with local schools, Retreat-ish––a mini-workshop event that features a youth art camp, yoga for all and wellness baskets. The event has been free for families of the Long Beach Unified School District.
The latest Retreat-ish took place at Ben Franklin Classical Middle School in early November and according to Simmons, it’s in the planning stages to host another. No date has been set yet.
“I think the schools is where our focus is turning in more because that’s where our families are,” Simmons said.
For more information on community events by AOC7, visit their website here, and follow them on Instagram @aocseven. A wait list for the next Retreat-ish workshop can be found here.
