QUARANTINE KINDNESS
FROM PROVIDING MEALS TO FRONTLINE WORKERS TO OFFERING GRANTS FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO CREATING MASKS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED , ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC .
BY JUSTINE AMODEO
Sawdust artists Marisa and Robert Holton were two recipients of the Laguna Relief Fund grants .
A RELIEF FUND FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
In late April , a Laguna COVID-19 Relief Fund was launched by a group of local business owners and community volunteers focused on creating instant financial relief for local residents . At press time , it had raised $ 440,000 . The fund , created in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Community Foundation , has made money available to individuals for rent , food , medical bills and other basic needs with an emphasis on those in the restaurant , hospitality , retail , arts and personal service industries .
Emergency assistance mini-grants — in the form of Visa gift cards each worth up to $ 1,000 — were awarded to 862 people , according to fund co-chair and local resident Bob Mister , who says applicants have ranged from restaurant workers to hotel personnel , dog walkers , day laborers and artists . In mid-June , the Wayne Peterson Foundation Fund , established by the city ’ s former mayor , offered to match the next $ 25,000 raised ; applications were accepted through the end of June .
PIMCO OFFERS AID
Vulnerable communities , including food banks around the world , were aided by Newport Beach-based PIMCO Foundation , which issued 18 grants to international charity partners focused on humanitarian relief for those affected by COVID-19 , as well local community collaboratives in Orange County and other U . S . cities coordinating responses to the pandemic in their local regions .
PIMCO ’ s largest multi-year partner , The Global Foodbanking Network , is also among those who received funding . “ The Global FoodBanking Network continues to work closely with its members and partners to ensure that relief continues during this crisis . We are accelerating knowledge sharing so food banks can source more meals and safely deliver food during this rapidly changing time ,” says Lisa Moon , president and chief executive officer of the Global Foodbanking Network . “ We have ramped up financing for our members so that they can distribute food parcels even more quickly . We are also working with our global partners to help support members ’ supply chains so they can better meet their communities ’ urgent needs .” ( foodbanking . org )
Bracken ’ s Kitchen partnered with Grandma ’ s House of Hope in Santa Ana which receives meals for its Nana ’ s Kidz program .
DEPOSITING INTO FOOD BANKS
In April , Newport Beach-based OC Community Resilience Fund announced it was offering grants to dozens of local non-profits , clinics and individuals to provide support for medical services through community clinics , access to food and childcare , as well as support for the homeless and other vulnerable populations . One of the recipients was Bracken ’ s Kitchen , a non-profit that helps Orange County ’ s most vulnerable by bringing nutritious meals in mobile kitchens to communities in need . With the funding , Bracken ’ s Kitchen was able to provide essential support to those most affected by COVID-19 with food procurement as well as hire 16 cooks who recently lost their jobs through restaurant closures . The Kitchen ’ s production capacity increased from 8,000 meals a week to 35,000 meals a week in the past three months .
According to Bill Bracken , the nationally renowned chef who is the inspiration behind Bracken ’ s Kitchen , when COVID-19 hit and most of the kitchen ’ s agency partners closed , “ we realized we were going to have to pivot . We started making a lot of one pot meals , stews and pastas . We had to limit our exposure ,” he says . “ We had conversations with our remaining staff about sheltering in place when they were home and when we received some financial support , we hired 16 chefs , many of whom would have been making more money collecting unemployment at home .”
Bracken ’ s Kitchen also kicked off its own COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund , which in over six weeks , was able to distribute 542 , 244 meals . “ No one knows when this is going to end ,” says Bracken , adding that donations are still needed . “ Things are ugly and hard for a lot of people . It isn ’ t going away anytime soon .” ( brackenskitchen . com / emergency-response-fund )
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