Editor, Yesterday, Sally from the Neighborhood Congregational Church asked me to meet her and Julie at the Food Pantry to help unload some food donations. Naively, I thought that would be no big deal until they arrived with two SUVs overflowing with non-perishable items they and their friends had collected outside of Albertsons. Volunteering at [...]
Editor, Last weekend, our dear friend and volunteer Cathy celebrated a milestone birthday. Instead of receiving gifts at the party, she asked that her friends bring non-perishable foods for the Laguna Food Pantry. Fortunately for us, she is loved by an inordinate number of people, whose gifts helped fill our shelves. May her thoughtfulness inspire others [...]
Editor, We have great news for our Laguna Food Pantry visitors. Steve, the new manager of Crystal Cove’s Trader Joe’s, has invited us to pick up produce, meats, bread and flowers seven days a week. And over in Laguna Hills, Laura and Jeff received permission from Don, Fresh and Easy’s manager, to fill their car with [...]
Editor, Last week the Laguna Food Pantry took out an ad requesting donations to buy turkeys for our neighbors in need. Our dear friend Verna Rollinger took our ad to heart and sent out a clarion call. And did her friends ever respond, making her turkey drive a great success. Their combined gift will enable [...]
Editor, Our Laguna Food Pantry tries to provide holiday turkeys to the hundreds of low-income families that come to us each month for free groceries. However, because turkeys are so expensive this year, the regional food banks were able to provide us with only a few for Thanksgiving. We are crossing our fingers for more [...]
Editor, This time of year seems to highlight one of the many qualities that make Laguna Beach such a magical place. Generous residents left boxes of food curbside for our Waste Management friends to deliver to the Laguna Food Pantry. Then Lyndsay and Bob from the Hearts of Montage brought us carloads of food donated [...]
Editor, Apparently, Laguna’s urban gardeners are having bountiful harvests this year. At the Laguna Food Pantry, we’ve already received bumper crops of apples, arugula, basil, grapefruits, lemons, lettuce, nectarines, oranges, peaches, peppers, spinach and zucchini. At first we wanted to thank each farmer by name, but that quickly became unfeasible because so many have come [...]
Editor, It’s that time of the year again for us to ask you, our generous amateur farmers, to bring your excess fruits and vegetables to our Laguna Food Pantry. We know that it’s easier for us to ask than for you to harvest, but you can’t imagine how happy your donations make our visitors. Fresh [...]
Editor, The Laguna Resource Center would like to thank Evonne Kane and her dedicated volunteers for last weekend’s Boutique Benefit. For the past six years, this popular fundraiser has helped us operate the Laguna Food Pantry, so our gratitude can actually be measured by the number of families we provide with free groceries. No [...]
Editor, In March, our Laguna Food Pantry provided free groceries to 870 families and individuals, a total of 2,511 people. We hope that the economy soon improves so that our services are no longer needed, but until that time, our all-volunteer staff will welcome neighbors struggling to make ends meet. Also, as summer approaches, [...]
Editor, A few weeks ago, I mentioned that our Laguna Food Pantry would be the perfect place to bring your extra fruits and vegetables. Today, I’m writing to say thanks to the many of you who dropped off bags of oranges, lemons, grapefruits and avocados. We can hardly wait for your next harvest! [...]
Editor, Last week, a Ms. Harrison called us at the Laguna Food Pantry. It seems she has more oranges and lemons from her trees than she can possibly use. Would we like the rest? she asked. It occurred to me that others of you might also have Ms. Harrison’s happy dilemma. If so, we’d [...]
Editor, This morning (Dec. 15), after our Food Pantry had closed, a car pulled up to the Resource Center. It seems the driver had “found” a mother and two children wandering down at the beach with no place to sleep. So she brought them to us, next door to the homeless shelter. Because the Laguna [...]
Editor, On behalf of all of us at the Laguna Resource Center, I want to thank Faye Chapman for organizing and operating the World Hunger Bowl fundraiser at the Aliso Creek Inn. Over the years, Faye’s tireless dedication to helping the homeless has enabled the center to provide food, clothing and medical services to the [...]
Editor, At the Resource Center’s Food Pantry this morning, a homeless man came in with a wallet he’d found on Laguna Canyon Road. It had $185 in it. He gave it to the pantry’s manager, who tracked its owner down. The good Samaritan refused to let his name be used. How many of us would [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
