Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was joined by TV personality Mark Long and student volunteers at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to pack 2,000 care packages of fresh fruit and vegetables, which will be sent out to various community organizations.
The mission of the Food Bank is to mobilize resources to fight hunger. The Food Bank acquires and distributes food, and other products, to needy people with the help of partnering agencies and conducts hunger education and awareness campaigns and advocates for public policies that alleviate hunger.
The Food Bank serves 680 non-profit organizations, such as food pantries, Boys & Girls Clubs, and senior citizen programs.
While at the Food Bank, Rivers was also helping to promote Pocket Protein Kidz, which was put into each care package. Children are surrounded by unhealthy carbohydrates and fast food. Studies have shown that an unhealthy diet can lead to childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, and that protein can build strong muscles and bones and support the immune system.
“Getting somebody like Doc Rivers [to participate] shines a spotlight on the importance of these programs, and what the partnering organizations are doing on a year round basis,” said Michael Flood, CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “We often think of this issue just during Thanksgiving, but this is a year round problem where people are struggling to feed themselves.”
