South Bay Mommies & Daddies Give Back To Health Care Heroes

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Health care heroes on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic are getting some extra love and support this Valentine's Day from the South Bay Mommies & Daddies.

The Redondo Beach parenting website and partner program will deliver $5,000 worth of local restaurant meals and 1,000 Valentine’s Day cards to support South Bay health care workers and patients at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers - Torrance and San Pedro.

The South Bay Mommies & Daddies, a Los Angeles area community platform for parents and family-friendly local businesses, partnered with the Project South Bay Heroes to help direct well wishes into action in the South Bay community.

"While everyone continues to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers continue to bear the brunt of it, local businesses are struggling, and people are unsure of how to help," the organization said in a news release.

Project South Bay Heroes is a fundraising program that gives community members a chance to show their appreciation for the health care community while also supporting struggling local restaurants. It's partnered with Tower 60 Foundation, Fueling the Fearless, South Bay Credit Union and OneNinth Media.

The program has already raised more than $15,000 in a few months, supported 12 South Bay, including Ragin’ Cajun, Sacks on the Beach, Bettolino Kitchen, Chicken Dijon and more. These restaurants have provided 950 meals for South Bay hospital workers.

The Valentine’s Day Kindness Project also collected more than 1,000 handmade cards from South Bay families for local hospital patients and healthcare workers. Local nonprofit Mychal’s Learning place is also donating more than 400 Valentine’s Day cookies for health care heroes.

“We are so grateful to South Bay Mommies & Daddies for putting together so many beautiful Valentine’s Day cards for both our patients and our employees," said Andrew Werts Director, Communications, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers, Torrance and San Pedro. "These cards really put smiles on everyone's face during this difficult time”

Inspired by her local community, founder Laura Stotland launched South Bay Mommies & Daddies in 2017 as a resource for local parents to provide information and tips for raising families in the South Bay. The group is now a popular community platform for parents and family-friendly local businesses that showcases information on events, news, volunteer opportunities and other resources. It now includes a Facebook Group that serves as a forum to ask questions and share ideas and advice on all things local.

After polling the healthcare community and other group members about how to provide support during this especially difficult time, Stotland created Project South Bay Heroes with multiple, simple ways for people and businesses to show their support. It includes outreach, by spreading messages to heroes who need support and providing tax-deductible donations that give first-responders meals from local eateries. In the program, $10 provides one meal, $100 provides meals for 10 essential workers and $1,000 allows the program to feed the entire staff on duty.

Interested South Bay restaurants can complete an application online to be considered for the program, organizers said. If accepted, the local restaurant will be notified to schedule a community-sponsored meal for healthcare workers.

"When I started talking to people, I heard from so many in our community that wanted to help, and learned that our medical professionals really wanted us to hear their plea to keep everyone safe and healthy," Stotland said.

The program has already been well received with families, local businesses and restaurants pledging their support, she said.

"In a time where we’re all feeling so helpless, it’s been amazing to see our community come together in this way," Stotland said. "While we’re thrilled to join others in the community in fundraising to provide meals to our local heroes and support local businesses, we’re equally proud that we can amplify their wishes through our video, and we hope people will join us in taking the pledge and sharing the video.”

“We are grateful to our strong team of partners and sponsors who are making this project possible,” said Stotland. “Our goal now is to rack up the biggest restaurant bill the South Bay has ever seen.”

“We are grateful for whatever people can do to help us show our appreciation for those who can’t stay home,” Stotland said. “The South Bay Community is truly in this together.”

Visit www.southbaymommiesanddaddies.com/project-south-bay-heroes to learn more about the program, donate, become a sponsor, watch and share the video. You can also download a printable sign to color and put it in your window to show support.

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