Helping The Helpers: South OC Company Funds & Feeds Thousands

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Rainbow Sandals had its humble beginnings in a garage of Jay "Sparky Longley's Laguna Beach home in 1974, with a sewing machine and some rubber. His goal? To make the world's best sandal.

In 2020, Rainbow makes over 2 million sandals a year and loves the stories of those who have walked in their sandals, according to the company website. Longley's company shares its wealth with those in need, writing over $250,000 in checks in 2020, sharing funds and recycled sandals to nonprofits, small groups, as reported in the Orange County Register.

Whether in checks or gathering produce from area farmers and distributing it to food distribution centers can help the most. Never has there been a year where Orange County residents have needed assistance more than in 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Longley was quiet about his donations, with small announcements reported on his website. His nature of staying below the radar had us nearly miss lauding the kind heart and generous nature of the Rainbow Sandals Foundation.

"We're happy to be in a position to give back," the company wrote on its website.

This year, they've donated food to local charities, such as the Laguna Food Pantry, St. Michaels Church in San Clemente, Capo Beach Church, Mendocino, Family Assistance Ministry, Second Harvest Food Bank, Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa, Mercy Warehouse, Boys & Girls Club, Saddleback Food Pantry, and 2nd Time Church in Tustin.

In February, they donated $5,000 to the school lunch program at Capistrano Unified School District. "The funds to provide lunches for hungry students who can't afford lunch every day is low," they wrote. "Hopefully, we were able to provide some more lunches for the time being."

In February, Rainbow Sandals donated 50 pairs of repair, reuse, recycle Rainbow Sandals to Mary's Kitchen in the city of Orange.

In late March, things began to change. Restaurants closed. Residents were worried, and many were laid off from their jobs.

"On March 21, we gave a free breakfast and lunch and dinner to over 2,000 people," spokesperson Herman Brown wrote. "The people never got out of their cars. We cooked the hot meals and played carhop, running food to them, up to 8 plates."

Rainbow Sandals joined an initiative to help called the Crisis Kitchen Coalition. The group would continue their work as long as the need existed, they said.

The next week they distributed 3,000 meals at that free event. That effort continued through Easter, Mother's Day, and more as they distributed from a San Juan Capistrano location. By June, Brown estimated that effort had shared over 72,000 hot meals in south Orange County.

As restaurants reopened, the need lessened, Brown said. Their last Crisis Kitchen Coalition giveaway was for Father's Day in June, where they served lunch.

"74,000 hot meals later, and we're still smiling," Brown wrote.

Rainbow Sandals continues to be to help others as the need arises.

Whether through recycled and repaired sandals, truckloads of avocados and organic produce, or supporting area businesses and non-profits, they were the silent angels of 2020.

Read more of their donations at www.RainbowSandals.com.