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News Briefs: November 14, 2008

Lab motorcyclists ride on for two good causes

More than 100 bikers rode to Site 300 Tuesday to raise money for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Armed Forces Veterans Association (LLLAFVA) scholarship fund for veterans and the Alameda County Firefighters Association continued support of "Hope for the Heart."

"Hope for the Heart" is an agency partner with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. The "Hope for the Heart" warehouse in Hayward was destroyed by a fire in July. The agency was helping 11,000 people per month before the fire, and is now supplying food out of semi-trucks.

The $1,847 collected from this year’s ride will be split 50/50 in support of these two organizations. Jimmy Watkins, son of James Watkins at Site 300 Fire, won the door prize—a flag that flew over the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

Riders also signed get well cards for Cpl. Ryan Hopkins, who was severely burned over 50 percent of his body in an explosion while stationed in Baghdad. Hopkins is the son of David Hopkins who works for Engineering Technology Resources at NIF.

 

 

NIF sponsors Lab-wide food drive

The NIF and Photon Science principal directorate is coordinating a Lab-wide canned food drive from Nov. 17 to Dec. 15, to benefit the Open Heart Kitchen (OHK).

The OHK is on the verge of having to close its doors at a time when its services are most needed. The OHK recently announced that they have only enough food to last six weeks.

The main collection boxes will be located in the lobbies of Bldgs. 482 (preferred drop-off location), 111, 132, 543, Central Cafeteria, West Cafeteria and with the HOME Campaign Organizational Team Leads ( OTLs ). The boxes will be emptied every Friday.

The OHK will collect and distribute donated food items to those in need in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore. Donations can be any nonperishable food item. The majority of meals provided are to single parents struggling to make ends meet. For example, recently a woman with three children lost her job, was re-employed and then lost that job. Because she had been hired for such a short time, she does not receive unemployment benefits. OHK has now become her primary food source.

Here are some sobering statistics from the OHK:

  • Cost of food has risen 9 percent.
  • Demand for OHK meals has increased 23 percent in the last few months.
  • Contributions have decreased by 37 percent.
  • An average of 450 meals a day are served five days a week.
  • Last year, OHK served up to 160,000 meals.
If you are looking for specific ideas for donations, here are some items that are needed:
  • The types of items in greatest demand are: meat; canned meats and fish; canned fruits and vegetables; fruit or vegetable juices; non-perishable milk; rice, pasta and instant potatoes; dried beans; coffee and tea.
  • Non-perishable individual serving sized food items such as raisin boxes; cheese ‘n cracker packages, cups, cookies and fruit bars.
  • Paper goods: paper napkins, paper towels, Styrofoam cups and plates, plastic forks, knives and spoons.
  • Cleaning products: sponges, dish soap, bleach and cleaners.

For more information, see the flier .

 

Nov. 14, 2008