6 Ways Los Angeles is Giving Back During the Pandemic

Focus on the positive with these tales of Angelenos giving back to their community, and a few suggestions on how to get involved.

One for One

Chef Adam Perry Lang has partnered with one of his best buddies, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, to supply meals to those in need at St. Joseph Center a local non-profit that provides support to families and homeless men, women and children, in Venice, Ca. For every meal ordered for take-out or pick-up from APL Restaurant in Hollywood, they will be donating that same meal to someone at St. Joseph Center. Tuck in to some matzoh ball soup or a fried chicken sandwich via Postmates or Grubhub to show your support.

Seeing Red

The Hollywood Post 43 American Legion, UCLA Health and the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center have teamed up to host a blood drive in support of the Los Angeles healthcare system and patients. On Sunday April 5 from 11am to 4pm the veterans organization and theater will transform into donation center in accordance with CDC guidelines. Participants are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance to enforce social distancing and keep the number of people at the donation center at any given time to a minimum. To schedule a blood donation appointment, go online at ucedonor.com, and enter code POST43 in the Zip Code or Account Code box. Potential donors can also make an appointment by visiting uclahealth.org/gotblood, or calling 310.825.0888 x2.

Needed Nourishment

Help Feed the Frontline LA, in partnership with World Central Kitchen and chefs including Brooke Williamson, is raising money to provide nutritious meals from local restaurants to nearly 450 healthcare workers twice a day. Funds for the meals are currently being collected through Go Fund Me. For context, $25 covers the cost of lunch and dinner for one worker, $500 covers the cost of daily meals for 20 workers and $2,500 would provide 100 workers with meals. Restaurants participating include Playa Provisions, Pacifique and Thyme Cafe.

Better Buzz

Bev, the canned wine company, will be donating 100% of sales, both in-person and online, to help out those affected by the Los Angeles dine-in closure mandate. In addition, they have set up a Go Fund Me where they have promised to match the first $3,000 in donations in an effort to support the service workers affected by layoffs and hour cuts.

Smart Repurposing

Lindsay McCormick, the CEO and founder of BITE Toothpaste Bits—as seen on Shark Tank—has taken an environmentally-friendly approach to tackling COVID-19 by repurposing old BITE bottles as receptacles for the WHO’s hand sanitizer. McCormick teamed up with Shirley Raines of Beauty 2 The Streetz, a nonprofit organization that provides makeup, showers, hair color and more to homeless women, to distribute food and BITE hand sanitizer to those in need on Skid Row.

Locks of Love

Luxe haircare line Philip B is currently putting together custom haircare packages—don’t worry, they’re being produced in a sterile environment—to donate to workers on the front line in emergency care. Never underestimate the importance of self-care!