UHSM Health Share partners with California Love Drop to provide meals to thousands of frontline medical staff, first responders and other essential workers.
One of the biggest dilemmas of the COVID-19 pandemic has been finding ways to keep businesses open while also keeping people safe and healthy. Thanks to a partnership with California Love Drop, UHSM (Unite Health Sharing Ministries) has found at least one small but very powerful way to strike that balance while also paying tribute to those fighting on the front lines of the pandemic.
California Love Drop was originally started by Wahoo’s Fish Tacos co-founder Wing Lam, who was experiencing an 85 percent drop in revenue as a result of the first wave of COVID-19 restaurant closures. Facing the prospect of having to close four locations, Lam instead put those locations and his employees to work preparing and delivering food to frontline workers at local hospitals as well as first responders and community volunteers.
“Everyone has been affected by this pandemic in one way or another,” said Wing. “Whether it’s the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals putting their lives on the line every day, or regular people trying to navigate their daily lives at work and at home, we all need to support one another. For me, it’s the perfect opportunity to help so many people, all through doing something I already love.”
What started as a single delivery of 300 meals from Wahoo’s Fish Taco to Hoag Hospital in Irvine, Calif. in April 2020, California Love Drop has grown into an ongoing weekly collaboration between Wing Lam, Co-Founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco; Wendy Ellis, Director of Marketing, KLOS-FM; and Eric Morley, Co-Founder of Blue C. California. Love Drop has since delivered more than 11,000 meals to 61 locations throughout Southern California, including its 100th delivery overall.
Through the help of its founding droppers: Wahoo’s, Blue C, Yogurtland, Antis, Vans, Cholula Hot Sauce, EDS, Coyle and hint water, California Love Drop continues to exceed expectations and grow exponentially throughout the Southern Californian region.
“It’s truly a blessing to see local businesses come together to help support the community,” said Wendy Ellis. “KLOS-FM Heidi & Frank Morning Show have been an integral part in spreading the message of California Love Drop and all of the hard work, generosity and kindness the founding team and our partners have created. It’s been an honor to be a part of this ripple effect of love, understanding and compassion happening across the Southern California community and we are excited to continue to extend and expand our partnerships and reach in such a vital time.”
Through its partnership with California Love Drop, UHSM is supporting the drops and team members are volunteering their time to deliver meals, treats and supplies to frontline workers at California Love Drop events along the southern California coast, between Los Angeles and San Diego.
With so much love to give, and so many people who need it, California Love Drop is also in the process of expanding its Love Drop services to support other types of community outreach organizations. During the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County’s 34th annual Thanksgiving Day event at Honda Center in Anaheim, California Love Drop provided 300 meals to volunteers on site who were there to pack and distribute meals to more than 7,000 local families. And as Orange County schools do their best to bring their students the best possible education during such an uncertain time, California Love Drop is looking to lend its support to the invaluable teachers, administrators and other essential staff who make those schools run safely and smoothly.
“The mission of our For Goodness Sake community giving is to help communities in need and to provide families with resources to maintain their holistic health and well-being,” said Christopher Jin, president of UHSM. “We are delighted to team up with California Love Drop, which shares our vision of giving back to local communities! Not only do these efforts donate meals and supplies, but we’re able to create a personal, face-to-face connection by dedicating our time to meet these frontline workers and help serve their needs.”
The partnership with California Love Drop is a perfect fit for UHSM’s For Goodness Sake initiative and represents just one of several community initiatives nationwide. Earlier this year, UHSM announced its partnership with Pure Game, a nonprofit organization that integrates character education curriculum and leadership coaching through sport into schools. UHSM teamed up with the Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) to create the OCSC Community Corner, a season-long outreach program that provides nonprofit organizations tickets to share with the children and families they serve. UHSM also supports Cornbread Hustle, a staffing agency dedicated to second chances, to provide free disinfection to Dallas, Texas area churches while providing their telehealth services to church staff and their families. The program is also being used by other essential organizations, including Orange County’s Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition, UHSM recently partnered with Cancer Kinship, a nonprofit which seeks to help patients and their loved ones adjust to a cancer diagnosis and treatment.