Long Beach residents are invited to help support the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires by volunteering for an upcoming food packaging event.
Ralphs Grocery Company and Food 4 Less/Foods Co. will host a meal packing event for wildfire victims on Friday, June 27 at the Queen Mary, as part of the companies’ Community Day of Service.
In partnership with U.S Hunger, 2,000 store associates and regional volunteers will pack 1 million meals for local food banks and hunger relief organizations to aid those impacted by the January wildfires in Los Angeles.
This will mark the second in a series of three meal packing events from The Kroger Co. Foundation, intended to forge community connection and fight food insecurity.
Volunteers can sign up for two-hour shifts, with slots available between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No prior experience is required.
Volunteer roles include:
- Table Captain
- Leads a team of 10-15 volunteers in properly packaging meals
- Ideal for volunteers comfortable speaking and leading others
- Heavy Lifter
- Support packaging efficiency by filling bins with food and moving completed boxes to pallets
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly
- Community Volunteer
- Help pack meals alongside other volunteers as part of the effort to reach 1 million meals
The first 2,000 volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt as well as free admission to the Queen Mary, and the chance for a discounted tour before or after their shift on June 27.
“The immediate danger of the fires may have passed, but the need in our communities is still very real, especially when it comes to hunger,” said Salvador Ramirez, Corporate Affairs Manager at Food 4 Less/Foods Co. and Ralphs Grocery Company, in a public statement. “This Day of Service is about moving forward together and making sure no one is left behind. We’ve seen time and again the incredible impact our community can make when we unite, and we’re confident this event will be something all Angelenos can be proud of.”
Those who are interested in volunteering can register at mealpack.org. Further support for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires can be found through resources from Food 4 Less, Foods. Co. and Ralphs.
