ANGELS BASEBALL Press Release
Laguna Food Pantry in the News
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ANGELS BASEBALL FOUNDATION’S
GRAND SLAM FOR LAGUNA FOOD PANTRY
LAGUNA BEACH, CA (August 19, 2019) – Los Angeles Angels Chairman Dennis Kuhl personally delivered a generous $10,000 donation to the Laguna Food Pantry. Kuhl toured the quaint market during a rush of the morning shoppers. Laguna Food Pantry provides free, fresh, and nutritious groceries to over 400 Orange County families in need each week.
“The first-time grant to the Pantry from the Angels Baseball Foundation will be used to provide shoppers with fresh milk and produce, a luxury for our shoppers and to have at any food pantry,” Anne Belyea, the Pantry’s Executive Director said.
“It's our responsibility to be part of the community,” said Kuhl. “We want to be part of the family.” According to Kuhl, the Pantry's mission supports the charitable goals of the Angels, which assists children and supports education. “They can't go to school hungry. We feel it is part of the educational process and is worthwhile.” During the visit Friday, June 28, he surveyed the displays as shoppers selected from produce, prepared salads, frozen meat, milk, eggs, and bread.
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Kuhl, an active supporter of community outreach endeavors, serves on the Board of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Board of Governors with Chapman University along with the Board of Directors for five other nonprofit organizations: the Los Angeles Sports Council, Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim, Newport Sports Museum, One Mission Foundation, and the Tiger Woods Foundation. He is also on the Advisory Board for the South County Outreach.
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Pantry inventory mostly comes from daily food donations by local grocery stores, Trader Joe's, Gelson's, Pavillions, Ralph’s, and Whole Foods, which Pantry volunteers pick up. Once a month, the Pantry shoppers can also take advantage of a federal distribution of surplus staple food.
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Approximately one-third of the Pantry's shoppers, live, work, or go to school in Laguna Beach, but others come from as far as Garden Grove, Belyea said. Last month's 2,300 shoppers were able to feed their families, which totals over 7,750 people served.
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Kuhl expressed surprise at the figures, indicating the breadth of community needs. “It proves we have to do a better job,” he said.
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ABOUT LAGUNA FOOD PANTRY
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Celebrating its 25th year serving our neighbors in need, every weekday, Laguna Food Pantry collects and distributes 5,000 lbs. of free, fresh groceries to approximately 100 families, half of whom have children. Located at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road north of the Dog Park, the Pantry is open from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. It is run almost entirely by volunteers. Phone: 949-497-7121 or visit www.lagunafoodpantry.org.
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ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS
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The Los Angeles Angels joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1961 and have since gone on to win nine American League Western Division Championships, host three All-Star games and capture the 2002 World Series Championship. Over its 59-year history, the franchise also boasts four MVP’s, two Cy Young winners, three Rookie of the Year winners, 38 Rawlings Gold Glove winners and 157 All-Stars. Visit the Angels online at www.Angels.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @Angels and like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Angels. For media information, visit www.angelspressbox.com.