Santa Monica

On October 23, the Westside Food Bank’s Hunger Walk along the Santa Monica Pier had a great turnout with more than 600 walkers. This event set a new record for fundraising bringing in more than $110,000 in donations. The raised funds will be used to provide 44,000 meals for the hungry. Every year, more and more individuals and families seek food. Westside Food Bank work with 65 agencies to distribute 4.5 million pounds of food per year. In Santa Monica alone, more than 105,000 people per year receive aid. Find out more at www.wsfb.org.

During Nov. 7-19, Gelson’s Markets, California’s Supermarket Chain, will hold its annual Holiday season food drive. All 25 Gelson stores will participate in the food drive. Every year, Gelson donates more than $2 million in products and cash to nonprofit organizations that focus on hunger.

“Recurring partner organizations include AIDS Project Los Angeles, Food Finders, Food Share, La Cañada Community Center, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest and Unity Shoppe. New food drive partners from recently acquired stores include Feeding San Diego and Rancho Mirage’s F.I.N.D. for the additional three San Diego locations. On weekends, volunteers from several of these organizations will visit area Gelson’s stores with lists of needed items; other stores will have bins where customers can donate items. Healthy (e.g., low-sodium, low-sugar), non-perishable foods are most needed, such as peanut and other nut butters, dried or canned beans, canned vegetables, canned meats/fish, canned fruit, whole grain cereal, whole grain pasta, soup, rice, granola bars, etc.”

Source: http://www.smmirror.com/articles/News/GELSONS-LAUNCHESANNUAL-HOLIDAY-FOOD-DRIVE-NOVEMBER-7-19/46239

On Tuesday, Voters rejected the proposal to stop development of new hotels, shops, condos and apartments in the beachside city. This measure was rejected by voters by more than 56%. If it passed, Measure LV would not allow developers build properties that were 32 feet or taller.