Kings forward Harrison Barnes helps feed families in need during coronavirus crisis
The NBA season is still on hold as America tries to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but Kings forward Harrison Barnes has not stopped his charitable work in the community.
The Kings announced Monday that Barnes and his wife, Brittany, are donating $40,000 to provide weekly groceries for vulnerable families and senior citizens for the next month. The donation was coordinated in partnership with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, the Black Child Legacy Campaign and seven BCLC community partners.
“Food accessibility is a health crisis that has always affected underserved communities,” Barnes said in a news release. “This pandemic has really magnified the issue, so we knew this was an area we wanted to focus our efforts. During these uncertain times, we wanted to find a way to serve and be impactful to vulnerable families in our community. My wife and I were privileged to partner with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation and Black Child Legacy Campaign and its trusted partners, who are doing incredible work to ensure families in Sacramento’s most underserved communities have food on the table. We’re proud to do a small part in providing more families with food security during these difficult times.”
Food will be given to families identified by community organizations across Sacramento County, the Kings said. Each box will contain nonperishable foods such as pasta, rice and canned goods as well as fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.
In addition, Barnes and his wife will donate Dutch Bros. coffee and pastries to physicians and staff working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit.
The Barnes family is making this donation in addition to more than 1,250 meals Barnes and teammates De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovich, Richaun Holmes and Cory Joseph have donated to families and children in need this month.
“The challenges our communities face have been amplified by the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president of the Sierra Health Foundation. “It’s more important than ever to support each other and we thank the Barnes family for doing just that with their commitment to this city and its most vulnerable residents.”
