NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Pomona, Calif., is known around the world as the home of the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and the Auto Club NHRA Finals. What’s less well known is the dragstrip forms the northwest border of a 487-acre facility known as Fairplex, which operates 365-days a year to serve Los Angeles County.

In March, the Fairplex announced a partnership with Sowing Seeds for Life from La Verne Calif., to use the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona’s dragstrip to provide a drive-through food pantry on the first and third Wednesday of each month until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The food will be provided to all county residents with proper ID who drive in Gate 17 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or until supplies last.

County residents in need will arrive in their cars, and volunteers in protective clothing will load a box of food into the trunk. Patrons will never need to exit their vehicles, and volunteers will remain at least six feet away.

According to the Daily Bulletin more than 1,600 vehicles participated in the initial food pantry event held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

“We’re glad to partner with Sowing Seeds which is an established food pantry in this community. They have a strong base of volunteers that worked with the LA Food Bank to get these supplies,” said Fairplex CEO Miguel Santana to the Daily Bulletin. Joyce Johnson, a spokesperson with Sowing Seeds, added, “It’s a lot of work to put this kind of operation together but we know this is when our services are needed the most.”

For information on the drive-up food pantry please visit Sowing Seeds for Life.

Photos Courtesy of Fairplex