Saddleback Food Drive In Lake Forest Feeds Thousands, Brings Hope

LAKE FOREST, CA — Lake Forest and Saddleback Church have fed thousands since December, the city says. The regular food distribution events are scheduled at Lake Forest Park and Heroe's Park.

It was a meeting of the minds when Lake Forest city staff and Saddleback Church decided to join forces in December. Together, the two organizations knew that a partnership would best serve the community, thrown into crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Scott Voigts connected City staff and the Saddleback Team. Recreation Manager Laura Lisack is the lead for the City, while Vanessa Burdick, the PEACE Community Resource Center Manager, is the lead for Saddleback Church. The group determined that food distribution was the best way to help residents in need, and donations events were planned for February, March, and April at the Lake Forest Sports Park and Heroes Park.

One week ago, Saddleback Church held its first food distribution event at the Sports Park.

"There were 336 families, 1,260 people total, served by 49 volunteers," Lake Forest city spokesperson Jon Volzke tells Patch. Volunteers distributed bread, bakery items, dairy products, fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat to feed families in need.

"Families were able to drive or walk through a series of pick-up areas for food and beverages," he says.

This Tuesday, the first distribution was held at Heroes Park.

"At this event, 302 families for a total of 1,170 people served," Volzke says. "There were 14 resource coach appointments made."

Resource coaches are attending to the needs of residents in need of work or other services.

"Last week, they had 12 (resource coach) appointments, and one family told them that their son already got a job from the resource coach," Volzke says.

Similar food distributions are scheduled for March and April, on the second Tuesday of each month at the Sports Park and the third Tuesday at Heroes Park.

The events at both parks are 10 a.m. to noon. Everybody is welcome to come by for fresh groceries.

"Lake Forest is proud of its partnership with Saddleback Church. Since the pandemic closed many of our facilities, we’ve searched for ways to ensure they continue to serve the public however possible," Volzke says.

During the pandemic, Lake Forest has held food drives with Families Forward, food distributions with Saddleback Church, and regular blood drives with the American Red Cross.

The next blood drive is on April 5 at the City of Lake Forest Recreation Center.

"The blood drives have collected nearly 400 pints of blood – and each pint can save up to three lives," Volzke says. "Between the food collections, the blood drives, and now the food distributions, we’re proud the facilities continue to serve the residents of Lake Forest."

The next food distribution and resource fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 20 at the Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive.