KYCC COVID-19 Response — Hot Meals for Koreatown Elders

Food Delivery Donors

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KYCC launched an emergency COVID-19 food delivery program and fundraising campaign in Koreatown. #KYCC❤️KTOWN will bring hot meals and groceries to isolated seniors and medically compromised residents. 

Program partners include: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Sterling Bank & Trust, Hanmi Bank, Councilmember Herb Wesson (CD10), and Councilmember David Ryu (CD4).

“With the “Safer-at-Home” order in effect in Los Angeles, we have fielded hundreds of requests from across the Koreatown community,” says KYCC Executive Director Johng Ho Song. “Our elders do not have access to food and supplies. Our businesses—the mom-and-pop restaurants that make up the heart of this community—were hit early and hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The outpouring of support has matched the calls for assistance. Through this coordinated effort, KYCC mobilized all of our available resources, from our hardworking staff to our community partners and stakeholders, to expedite this critical food drive and delivery program to our most vulnerable population. But this is equally an endeavor to support our local small businesses through this crisis.” 

As funds and supplies increase, KYCC intends to expand the program to include more restaurant participants and delivery recipients. 

With support from our longstanding government, corporate and community partners, KYCC will purchase hot meals from neighborhood restaurants that have been deeply impacted by government-mandated closures.

Meals will be delivered three times a week to limited-income seniors in Koreatown. KYCC staff and volunteers are delivering the meals and goods, while adhering to strict COVID-19 health guidelines. 

In addition to the prepared meal delivery, KYCC will also deliver a bag of groceries and basic supplies, such as hand sanitizer, soap and toilet paper, once a week. 

“From supporting seniors to small businesses to providing childcare services and low-income housing, KYCC is helping to take care of our most vulnerable neighbors and hardest-hit mom-and-pop restaurants during these unprecedented times,” says Councilmember Herb Wesson. “We’re proud to partner with KYCC as they expand their efforts to keep Koreatown healthy and whole as we confront this global crisis.”

“Part of KYCC’s mission is to serve the evolving needs of the Koreatown community,” says Councilmember David Ryu. “During the Coronavirus public health emergency, we are working quickly alongside KYCC to ensure that our elders and small businesses are not neglected, but rather provided with assistance and relief.”

“KYCC knows to quickly mobilize and assist our community in times of crisis. Their Community Economic Services developed in the wake of 1992 Los Angeles Riots, which devastated small businesses in the neighborhood. Today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hanmi Bank is proud to partner with KYCC to help those with the greatest needs,” says Hanmi Bank’s President Bonnie Lee.

Important resources, such as Census and tax information, and employment and tenancy rights, will also be included.

Elder participants will be interviewed and surveyed regularly by youth program participants in continuation of KYCC’s Intergenerational Initiative. 

An online fundraising campaign #KYCC❤️KTOWN is being launched to raise funds to provide for more small business and elder support in Koreatown. $10=One Hot Meal/Grocery Bag.

Food items already donated include: 2,000 pounds of rice (Anonymous), 3,000 bananas (Chiquita Brands International), 100 Hot Meals (Island Restaurants), 26 boxes of diapers, and hundreds of care packages from Hwarang Youth Foundation and Karsh Center.