Long Beach parish hosts historic food drive

More than 1,000 boxes of food were handed out to local families in need at a June 26 drive-through event at St. Barnabas Church in Long Beach that drew helpers from all parts of LA County, including Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The drive was organized by the Long Beach Bacolod Association and the L.A. Sheriff Department’s Community Advisory Council. 

More than 100 volunteers from local charities, including the Knights of Columbus, Manny Pacquiao Foundation, Filipino American Community of Los Angeles, Wives of the LASD, Philippine Nurses Association of Southern California (PNASC) and the Philippine Consulate General, passed out canned and dry goods, milk, fresh vegetables, and hand sanitizers. One-hundred fifty boxes were earmarked for Gold Star Moms, local families whose relatives died in the line of duty. 

“We normally do festivals and exchange cultural events,” said organizer Peter Ramirez, president of the Long Beach Bacolod Association. “But because of the pandemic, we started to concentrate on food drives.”