By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Ward Economic Development Corporation and Mothers in Action were among the groups partnering with DoorDash to provide 1,000 families with meals for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The meals were delivered to local residents served by Ward and the meal purchases were made possible thanks to support from community partners like DoorDash. This marks Ward Economic Development Corporation;s 29th year of serving meals for the holiday.
“Thanksgiving is a time for community and gratitude, and WEDC’s Thanksgiving meals program truly embodies both,” said Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “I’m comforted knowing that hundreds of Angelenos in the communities I serve and beyond are receiving a Thanksgiving meal, thanks to WEDC and their partners.”
Distributed from their Ward Villas Senior Housing facility located in South Los Angeles, Ward’s deliveries help the local community access nutritious food, an ongoing challenge amid daily demands for many with disabilities and limited transportation. Supporters like DoorDash allow them to purchase more holiday meals to serve their community.
“DoorDash’s mission is to empower our local communities, and we’re so proud to have partners like WEDC who share that mission,” said Alejandra Velázquez, head of western regional government relations at DoorDash. “Today’s event highlights how these partnerships help us broaden food access in Los Angeles communities.”
Their work is particularly impactful in the South Los Angeles communities represented by Harris-Dawson.
According to a study by USC Dornsife, more than 1 million residents across the county are food insecure. South Los Angeles, for example, has one of the highest rates of food insecurity, where one in four people don’t know if they will have a next meal.
In 2022, 24% of Angelenos were food insecure, and 25% were nutrition insecure, while 14% (about 1.4 million people) were food and nutrition insecure.
“To tackle the leading causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes and mental health issues, we need to track both nutrition insecurity and food insecurity in L.A. County,” said Kayla de la Haye, founding director at USC Dornsife’s Center for Economic and Social Research. “Addressing food insecurity is critical to ensuring people have enough food, but we must also understand who faces barriers to eating a healthy diet.”
Established in 1987 as one of the first faith-based development corporations in Los Angeles, the Ward Economic Development Corporation serves Los Angeles County residents who are affected by food insecurity.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
