MLB player Yasiel Puig’s Wildhorse Children’s Foundation partnered with the Mayor of Compton, Aja Brown to host the Compton Food Distribution at Gonzales Park. Families in the community needed resources in these trying times. Puig, and Mayor Brown did an outstanding job of calling out businesses to ban together and help people with goods.
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, Puig wasn’t able to attend the event, but in a recent Instagram post Puig said, “Times are hard and our communities need us now more than ever. This is when we need to show up for each other. No matter what our circumstances are, there is always an opportunity to serve others.”
They were able to serve 50 pounds of food, hand sanitizers, masks, gloves, and PPE for the families of Compton. Cars were wrapped around the Gonzales Park parking lot waiting to be served their essential items.
Lisette Carnet, the Executive Director of the Wild Horse Children’s Foundation stated that this crisis has touched many families, no matter what class, age, or race. “This pandemic is hitting everybody. It doesn’t know poor from rich, or old from young. It is really important to Yasiel Puig to make sure that the children are taken care of, and have what they need during this time,” says Carnet. “That’s his main focus, it’s always been the mission of his foundation and that’s what they are doing today,” she continues.
The community appreciated all their essential items and food. Executive director Carnet was serving, while having a great time connecting with the people. She says, “The city of Compton is amazing. We called them out, we said we’re going to need some businesses to come out. We asked them to volunteer and donate some food. They have been nothing short of phenomenal. We were really impressed with the City of Compton. It’s full of heart.” Many businesses and volunteers came out to support the mission of the Wildhorse Children’s Foundation when called.
One of the volunteers who wishes to remain anonymous shared their thoughts with the Los Angeles Sentinel on the food distribution. They want to do more than just hand out food. Volunteers mentioned the community should have access to opportunities that will place them in positions where they are able take care of themselves, and don’t need to rely on community food distributions.
Black Routes Founder Jared Chapman and co-founder Melody Kia from Black-Routes.org collaborated with this initiative as well.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, co-founder Kia said, “We are so lucky to be able to collaborate with the Wildhorse Foundation, and of course Lisette. It’s been such an amazing opportunity to help so many people. We’re hoping to collaborate in the future.”
Black-Org is looking to help strengthen black businesses, and keep their resources in the community. Similar to Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma before the community was burned down by White supremacists in 1921.
Kia says, “With everything that’s happening in the black community it seems like that’s where we need to focus in order to build an entire nation. Our program director is very passionate about helping the Black community. We want to help provide better opportunities for the future generations.”
With the help from Compton city officials, volunteers and local businesses the Wild Horse Children’s Foundation was able to feed over 300 families with love and great music from the Los Angeles Dodgers official DJ, DJ Severe. Compton Community Food Distribution was a success.
