San Pedro, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office has dedicated $330,000 to a program designed to support struggling restaurants and families in need.
“People are hurting,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Through no fault of their own, people have lost jobs and wages, and small businesses have been shuttered. We designed this program to get food on families’ tables while at the same time supporting restaurants that are struggling right now.”
The funding is being distributed to ten non-profit organizations across the Fourth Supervisorial District. The non-profits will use the funding to purchase gift cards from small restaurants in their communities and distribute them to local families in need.
“2020 has been a very difficult year for a lot of families and local businesses,” said Oscar Hernandez, the Executive Director of Whittier Boys and Girls Club, one of the participating non-profits. “Thanks to Supervisor Janice Hahn, the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier will be working with our local school district partners to provide gift cards and vouchers to local restaurants. I think this a great idea, that helps both families who are struggling while at the same time, helping local restaurants in our area.”
Participating non-profits include:
- The Volunteer Center South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach
- Community Family Guidance Center in Cerritos
- Boys & Girls Club of Whittier
- Downey Unified School District’s True Lasting Connections Family Resource Center
- Feed and be Fed in San Pedro
- SBCC/ South Bay Center for Counseling
- Rowland Heights Chinese Association
- New Horizons Caregivers Group in Hacienda Heights
- Latinos in Action in Long Beach
- Asian Empowerment Association in Long Beach
- YMCA of Greater Long Beach
Of the $330,000, Hahn’s office has allocated $300,000 for restaurant gift cards. $30,000 will be donated to the non-profits for their work identifying families in need and distributing the gift cards.
“Our Supervisor Janice Hahn has created ways to help supply food to families in need while assisting many struggling businesses. As a restaurant owner myself, I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to partner in this endeavor and I look forward to serving the Whittier community. Thank you, Supervisor Hahn, for your tenacity in supporting small businesses during this pandemic,” said Sandra Hahn who owns Crepes & Grapes restaurant in Whittier.
Participating non-profits are still in the process of selecting restaurants to purchase gift cards from. Small restaurants that do not offer gift cards will be given specially designed vouchers.
This program is being funded through discretionary funding allocated to Supervisor Hahn’s office.