The food drive culminated in an event on November 18 at Jesse Owens Park Gymnasium in Los Angeles, where 1,000 local families identified as needing assistance by community-based organizations were given a $75 gift certificate to Ralphs/Food4Less and a bag of traditional Thanksgiving food items.

On hand at the event to recognize the collaborative effort between Kinecta and community partners were nationally recognized Watts community activist “Sweet” Alice Harris and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters.

“We are honored to carry on the tradition of providing holiday food and gift cards to local families in need,” said Kinecta Chief Operating Officer Donna McNeely. “Each year, our employees and community partners work together to give back to communities where Kinecta’s members, customers, and employees live, work, and worship. It’s a tremendous and worthwhile effort.”

Now in its 45th year, the food drive partners Kinecta employees with more than 40 nonprofit organizations and churches to provide temporary relief to families in need during the holiday season. In the months leading up to the distribution day, Kinecta also received donations for the food from Kinecta’s branches and from the credit union’s vendors and partners.

Among the community organizations participating in this year’s food drive were Centro de Niños, Drew League, El Centro Del Pueblo, King Drew Magnet Medical High School, My Sister My Friend BCS, Parents of Watts, Richstone Family Center, Salvation Army of Compton, South Bay Family Health Care Clinic, Thomas House Family Shelter, Training and Research Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10218, Watts/Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club, and Watts/Century Latino Organization.