Former Congressman Harley Rouda Donates To Families Forward

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, former Congressman Harley Rouda hosted a food drive celebrating this day of service. The event took benefitted Families Forward, an Orange County-based nonprofit that serves homeless families.

"I first and foremost want to thank everyone who came out to our National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy," Rouda tells Patch.

"Their selfless dedication to our community is a reminder of what we can do to uplift the most vulnerable among us," he said. "In many ways, with the galling injustice of the pandemic and Capitol insurrection on full display, there has never been a more crucial time to remember Dr. King’s mission and complete his life’s work of racial and economic justice for all."

At the event, six pickup trucks, six sedans, two minivans, and two SUVs arrived, packed full of food, diapers, masks, and disinfectant, collected from over 160 volunteers. Of the donation, CEO Madelynn Himeise described the day to Patch.

"We received 30 barrels of food from former Congressman Harley Rouda’s day of the service food drive," she said.

Since the pandemic began, Families Forward has provided hunger relief via our drive-thru food assistance program to more than 62,000 Orange County residents, and we couldn’t do it without the support of our community.

"Every week, we see families, seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities – residents from all walks of life needing food assistance – and we know this crisis is far from over," Himeise said. "Community food drives, like the one hosted by Rouda, are vital to keeping our pantry shelves stocked during these challenging times.”

Families without housing are particularly at-risk during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Families Forward website. Families Forward works to provide housing and supportive services for this vulnerable population without interruption through online, teleconference, and over-the-phone service.

Since March 16, we have seen a 325% increase in food assistance requests, and we know that need will continue during these uncertain times.

Those in need can seek drive-thru food assistance, with proper distancing and sanitization protocol, Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., no appointment needed.

The collection would be distributed through Families Forward to those in urgent need of support. Rouda plans on remaining engaged through service, post-congress, even as he begins his two-year campaign against Congresswoman Michelle Steel.

"This righteous fight is incumbent on every one of us," Rouda says. "We must all be engaged, and we must continue our nation’s charge towards equality.”

Rouda says he plans to continue the event by regularly hosting a day of service, giving back to the community he represented in Congress.

If you would like to host a food drive, whether as a corporation, service group, or individual, contact a Food Drive Coordinator at fooddrives@families-forward.org or call (949) 716-5862.