Employees from two local car dealerships, West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda, came together last week to pack hundreds of bags of food to deliver to local elementary students.
Early Wednesday morning, June 3, more than 25 employees from both dealerships got to work packing red reusable bags with nonperishable items, such as oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, cans of tuna, cereal, apple sauce and more.
From the West Coast Toyota, more than 400 bags full of food were delivered to Signal Hill Elementary School, part of the Long Beach Unified School District. Organizers said that the school gratefully received the donations as they would benefit many students.
“All of our team members that participated were so overjoyed to help,” Jose Luis Rodriguez, Human Resources Manager of the two dealerships, said in a statement.
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
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Employees from West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda filled hundreds of bags with food that were delivered to local elementary students on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as part of the Ken Garff Automotive Group’s “Drive Out Hunger” annual campaign to combat child food insecurity. (Photo by Sara Waldman, courtesy of Ken Graff Automotive Group)
These donations are part of a greater effort to combat child food insecurity, organizers said. Ten California dealerships part of Ken Garff Automotive Group – including West Coast Toyota and Long Beach Honda – participated in the third annual “Drive Out Hunger” Campaign, aiming to make a meaningful impact in the lives of local children facing food insecurity.
According to Feeding America, an estimated one in five children in the country face uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. The summer months can be especially challenging as students lose access to the free and reduced meals they receive during the school year, organizers said.
“‘Drive Out Hunger’ is about more than just food; it’s about showing up for our communities and helping ensure that children have the nourishment they need to learn and thrive,” Brett Hopkins, CEO of Ken Garff Automotive Group, said in a statement. “We’re hoping to help bridge that critical food gap that children and families face during the summer months.”
In Long Beach, employees were happy to help with the effort. Rachelle Papadatos, service director at Long Beach Honda, said that she loves to volunteer, so when she found out about her job doing something like this, she was one of the first to sign up and brought some of her team along too.
The Signal Hill Elementary added a thank-you sign to their school marquee to show their appreciation as well, organizers said.
In addition to this employee-led effort, each dealership location will host a community food drive through June 20, and is encouraging customers and local residents to contribute nonperishable food items, according to a press release. Dealership showrooms will feature a “Fill This Car” display, with the goal of filling a vehicle with donated food to be delivered to nearby food banks.
Donations can be dropped off at the West Coast Toyota, 3399 E. Willow St., or Long Beach Honda, 1500 E. Spring St.