According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, there are nearly 10,800 unhoused young people in LA County, many of whom come from minority and vulnerable backgrounds. For many who struggle to get transitional or permanent housing, access to food remains a major issue. To help provide proper nourishment to struggling families and individuals, BAPS Charities and its 50+ centers throughout the United States continue to conduct yearly food drives to support local organizations.
Earlier this year, BAPS Charities organized a food drive in Los Angeles, California. Volunteers donated over 500 pounds of canned and packaged foods and $250 in grocery gift cards to Youth Emerging Stronger. For this drive, BAPS Charities partnered with Los Angeles Lakers Basketball player Kendrick Nunn.
Located in the heart of Hollywood, Youth Emerging Stronger (YES) is an organization that delivers comprehensive support for runaway, homeless, and foster youth with the mission of providing the impacted youth with safety, stability, housing, along with relationships and resources to thrive now and in the future.
LA Lakers player Kendrick Nunn joined BAPS Charities for the donation and toured the transitional housing offered by Youth Emerging Stronger. He shared his experience, “I enjoy giving back and working with youth especially those less fortunate. I pride myself on helping within the community as much as I can. YES and BAPS Charities are doing amazing things with the homeless and creating life-changing experiences. I got a chance to see and experience some of the things they do with youth and step into their living situation. I really enjoyed collaborating with them and looking forward to doing more things in the near future.”
BAPS Charities was also joined by the CEO of YES Mark Supper, the Director of Development and Communications Venice Dunn, and other members of the team that works directly with the unhoused youth. They shared their gratitude, “On behalf of all of us at Youth Emerging Stronger, please accept our gratitude for your generous donation. For so many of the youth we serve, our four nurturing, homelike shelters provide a sense of safety and comfort they’ve rarely known. We could not fulfill our critical role without the in-kind support of partners like you!”
BAPS Charities thanks all the volunteers and donors of diverse ages and backgrounds who came together and donated to the food drive.
