Teen Organization to Provide 10,000 Meals for Local Families

Lion’s Heart, a volunteer service organization that empowers teens to support local nonprofits, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in August by sponsoring a local food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank, with the goal of providing 10,000 meals for Orange County families. Now through August 17, local residents can drop off non-perishable food donations at twelve collection locations throughout the area (locations listed below).

On Friday, August 22, more than 150 local Lion’s Heart teen members will sort and pack all food donations collected between July 29 and August 17 during an event at the Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

“It’s been an amazing experience watching this organization grow over the past 10 years, and as a result, see the amount of service given to nonprofits across Southern California and the country,” said Lion’s Heart founder, Terry Corwin. “Our goal is to collect enough food to provide 10,000 meals for Orange County families, and I’m confident that we’ll achieve this milestone in celebration of our anniversary year.”

Lion’s Heart provides teenagers in 6th – 12th grade the tools necessary to contribute to for-cause organizations in their communities. Chapters are organized by location, grade level and gender. Groups within chapters are responsible for electing officers and running their own meetings; giving each individual the power to choose how they want to serve in their communities. Members are required to complete at least 30 hours of volunteer service each year.

Collection barrels will be placed at the following locations throughout Orange County:

· Dana Point/Monarch Beach: Tennis Club of Monarch Beach – 33080 Niguel Road

· Huntington Beach: The Stanfield Group/HOM Sotheby’s Realty – 2124 Main Street, #100

· Irvine: Racquet Club of Irvine – 5 Ethel Coplen Way

· Ladera Ranch: Residence - 9 Pomegranate Street

· Ladera Ranch: Ethos CrossFit – 27742 Antonio Parkway (next to Kohl’s)

· Laguna Beach: Residence - 31341 Ceanothus Drive

· Laguna Hills: Left Coast CrossFit – 27120 Cabot Road

· Laguna Niguel: Laguna Niguel Racquet Club -23500 Clubhouse Drive

· Mission Viejo: Residence - 26082 Camino Adelanto

· Rancho Santa Margarita: The Bell Tower Regional Community Center – 22232 El Paseo

· Tustin: West Coast Rehabilitation Specialist/CrossFit - 2682 Walnut

· Westminster: Residence – 5342 Vallecito Avenue

In addition, Lion’s Heart chapters throughout Georgia, Connecticut, Colorado, New York, Texas and Wisconsin will be holding local food drives, contributing to the overall food donation total.

— Lion’s Heart press release