63 Athletes 'Hike for Hunger' to deliver food to Laguna Food Pantry

Sixty-five fitness buffs spent last Saturday morning hiking from Aliso Viejo to the Laguna Food Pantry to deliver – on foot – 1,100 lbs. of nonperishable food items.

The 2014 Hike For Hunger was organized by Aliso CrossFit, a fitness center in Aliso Viejo. Participants filled backpacks with non-perishable food items – about 20 lbs. per person – and hiked five miles on Aliso & Wood Canyon Wilderness Park trails to the Laguna Food Pantry on Laguna Canyon Road.

Rick DiCarlo, who with his wife Chelsea owns Aliso CrossFit, noted, “This year’s Hike for Hunger brought out 20 more hikers than last year’s inaugural event. We had such an enthusiastic response, we are considering making it a twice-yearly event.”

Pantry volunteers greeted the group with drinking water, snacks, balloons, flowers, and the musical theme from the film “Rocky” blaring. After unloading the food, hikers were given rides back to their starting point by pantry volunteers.

The Laguna Food Pantry provides free, fresh, nutritious groceries to low-income households. Every weekday, Laguna Food Pantry distributes 2,500 lbs. of free, fresh groceries to shoppers from area low-income households. Among those households, 20 percent of the consumers of the Pantry food are babies and children. Located at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road north of the Dog Park, the Pantry is open from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. It is run entirely by volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome. Phone: 949-497-7121 www.lagunafoodpantry.org.