Amazon Studios Teams up With Homeboy Industries to Provide Meals to Los Angeles Poll Workers on Election Day
CULVER CITY, Calif.: Amazon Studios is teaming up with Homeboy Industries — a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to gang rehabilitation and re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals — to support Los Angeles, poll workers. On Election Day, Amazon Studios and Homeboy Industries will provide breakfast and lunch for poll workers in select voting centers located in primarily under-resourced (structurally marginalized) areas, including East LA, Palmdale, Compton, and San Fernando, with the goal of serving approximately 800 poll workers at 55 voting centers across Los Angeles County. The meals will be produced and delivered by Feed HOPE, Homeboy Industries’ newly launched initiative which has delivered more than 150,000 meals to food-insecure Angelinos during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In light of the current pandemic, this year’s Presidential Election will be one of the most difficult election processes in recent history. In order to successfully manage Election Day in Los Angeles County, the county government has enlisted thousands of poll workers to support over 700 voting centers on Election Day across the county, including at mega locations such as Dodger Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and the Hollywood Bowl. Poll workers are largely responsible for their own food and refreshments while working on Election Day. Amazon Studios and Homeboy Industries are proud to support local communities and poll workers for their dedication and hard work on this pivotal day.
“Amazon Studios is honored to be working with Homeboy Industries, who have made such incredible strides in helping individuals redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community,” said Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke. “In this critical election year, we want to support and be there in meaningful and impactful ways for our local communities, who have always supported Amazon Studios and our business. We understand Election Day will be difficult this year due to the pandemic, so with the help of Homeboy, we’re glad to provide food and some relief for the poll workers. It’s important for us to all come together as a community and support each other this Election Day.”
”During this unprecedented time, the amazing men and women working in the Homegirl Café launched Feed HOPE in a time of need, and we are honored to partner with Amazon Studios to supply Election Day volunteers healthy and delicious meals as they enable democracy in the most deserving communities in Los Angeles,” said Arlin Crane, Vice President of Social Enterprises at Homeboy Industries.
“Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and we have to do everything in our power to preserve, promote, and defend the sacred right of all voters to cast a ballot and have a voice in shaping our government and our future," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "By providing meals and support to local poll workers, Amazon and Homeboy are tapping into the best of the Angeleno spirit: coming together to strengthen the process by which we choose our leaders, dictate a more just and equitable society, and determine the kind of city and nation we can be."
“Now more than ever, we see the true value of partnerships in service to our local communities,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “I am grateful for the collaboration and support from Amazon Studios and Homeboy Industries to provide meals to our vital election workers in underserved regions of the County.”
“These meals, provided through a public-private partnership involving the County, Amazon Studios, and Homeboy Industries, will be a welcome gift to Angelenos who are volunteering their time to serve as frontline workers at the County’s vote centers. I’m especially pleased to know that Homeboy Industries, which employs formerly incarcerated persons, will be preparing and providing the meals,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “Research has shown that increasing civic empowerment among justice-involved populations reduces recidivism. Perhaps we’ll see some of the same folks who are delivering the meals at our vote centers this year, casting their ballots, working the polls, and even running for office during the next election cycle.”
As the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world, Homeboy Industries is a beacon of hope in Los Angeles providing jobs and wraparound services to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men, women and youth, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of the community. Each year, over 10,000 former gang members come through Homeboy Industries’ doors in an effort to transform their lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Homeboy Industries launched Feed HOPE, a social enterprise which has served more than 150,000 meals to food insecure Angelinos. Led by Homeboy Catering and the Homegirl Cafe, Feed HOPE is serving our communities while also providing hundreds of jobs to women and men working to change the arc of their lives.
In addition to feeding poll workers, Amazon Studios and Homeboy Industries will continue to collaborate in furthering the essential and important work the non-profit provides to African-American and Latinx communities.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
