Lakers to host donation drive at upcoming games to support relief efforts from wildfires

The Lakers announced that they will host a donation drive over the next week to help support relief efforts for those impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles.

As the Lakers return to the court on Monday to finally resume their season, they will also kick off a week-long donation drive. The team announced on Sunday that donation bins would be placed outside Crypto.com Arena for the upcoming games on Jan. 13, Jan. 15 and Jan. 17.

Along with bins being outside the arena before games, the UCLA Health Training Center will be collecting donations from Jan. 14-18 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Via the team’s press release:

Fans attending Lakers games this week are encouraged to bring new, in-the-package, items to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s relief efforts. All contributions will assist those impacted by the recent wildfires. Collection bins will be located outside Crypto.com Arena at the Figueroa, Kobe Bryant and Star Plaza entrances. The collections will start when doors open 1.5 hours before tipoff until halftime of each matchup.

Additionally, the Lakers UCLA Health Training Center (2275 E Mariposa Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245) will serve as a drive-thru donation center Tuesday, Jan. 14, through Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. each day.

The team also provided a list of both food and non-food items needed by the community:

• Non-food Items: deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, waterless shampoo, phone chargers (battery pack), socks, mittens (gloves), hand warmers, beanies, blankets (Please note: No clothing donations)
• Food items: peanut and other nut butters, protein-based snacks (bars, peanut butter, protein cookies), crackers, peanut butter crackers, trail mix, fruit snacks, energy bars, pop top tuna, pop top chicken, 100% juice boxes, raisins and other dried fruit, UHT milk, individual cereal boxes, 16-20 oz water, non-carbonated drinks

Dave McMenamin of ESPN also provided some further context that this is not a clothing drive.

For further information and to learn how to help support relief efforts, the Lakers have directed fans to www.lafoodbank.com/fire/.

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