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Official publication of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce | 30,000 Circulation - Delivered to every home in Lakewood www.lakewoodchamber.com
Volume 41 Number 4
Lakewood Chamber helps distribute 1 million masks to small businesses
In an unprecedented effort, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce on February 25, joined forces with the Lakewood Center and the City of Lakewood, to facilitate a massive, county-wide PPE Giveaway for small businesses still fighting to survive a year after the start of this pandemic. Together with the Gateway Chamber Alliance, comprised of 12 other regional chambers, and PPE Unite, this giveaway served 732 small businesses, according to Jay Tsao, co-founder of PPE Unite. “As a recap, the event was truly a successful one and we couldn’t have done it without Lakewood,” Tsao added. “In total, within the 732 small businesses throughout Los Angeles County, this event supported a whopping 10,000 employees with just over one million masks.” Tagged “United for Small
Businesses,” the PPE Giveaway provided small businesses with personal protective equipment, including face masks, face shields, and hand sanitizers in the parking lot at the Lakewood Center. “This pandemic has taken a toll on all of our small businesses, so much that hundreds of them have had to shut their doors indefinitely throughout L.A. County,” said Jose Luis Solache, President of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. “Partnering with PPE Unite to provide our small businesses with equipment that can help them stay open a little longer while we all wait for everything to open back up to 100 percent capacity, was significant. It was a no-need-to-ask-us-twice moment and we were beyond humbled to be able to facilitate this giveaway for small businesses in our great City.” Solache and several members of the Lakewood Cham-
ber of Commerce, board members included, volunteered their time to assist in the massive giveaway. It took place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. “This event was unprecedented because we’ve never been through a pandemic, we’ve never had to help so many people at once like this,” Solache added. “For the last 12 months, communities throughout L.A. County have found themselves feeding families in great need with food pantries. A lot of times, the goods handed out at these food pantries come from small businesses, or familyowned businesses, so it is important that we continue to support the small businesses in our communities.” This giveaway provided every business with over 500 masks and face shields. “It might sound like a small giveaway, but in essence, masks, face shields and sanitizers for employees will assist small businesses from having to buy PPE for them as required by the county,” he said. By mandate from the L.A. County Department of Public Health, every business within the county must fully implement the required COVID-19 Protocols that not only protect customer health, but also the health of their employees. ♦
April 2021
Meet Lakewood’s Planning and Environment Commissioners
Commissioners from top left, going clockwise: Linda Manis, Jan McKinnon, Joe Ung, Pete Samaniego, and Bill Baca.
Five Lakewood residents serve on the city’s Planning and Environment Commission. They meet monthly and serve as the city review panel for decisions on zoning. They also advise the City Council on policies related to land use and the city’s General and Specific Plans. Each Lakewood City Council Member appoints one of the commissioners. Here’s something about each one (starting with top left photo, going clockwise): Linda Manis is the current commission chair. Linda has lived in Lakewood for 52 years. She is a retired aerospace bellow setup operator. She is active in a number of Lakewood community group including Neighborhood Watch, Pan American Association, Project Shepherd and Pathways Volunteer Hospice, and she volunteers with Lakewood Regional Medical Center, the Friends of the Lakewood Libraries and Volunteer Day. “It’s an honor to be a Planning and Environment Commissioner,” says Linda, “and to be involved in the decision making process for our community.” Jan McKinnon is the commission’s vice chair. She has lived in Lakewood for 34 years. Jan works part-time as an office manager at a private elementary school in Lakewood. “I enjoy the ability to have a voice in the quality of life for Lakewood's citizens through the Planning Com-
mission's decision-making process,” says Jan. Joe Ung has been a Lakewood resident for 28 years. He is well-known to many residents as the owner of Cassidy’s Corner Café (on Del Amo Blvd. just west of the 605) and the Juice Lab. Joe is active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Lakewood and as a board member of the Lakewood Family YMCA. “I love being able to promote the economy of Lakewood and get a look at some of the exciting developments coming to our city,” says Joe. “I also want to give a big thanks to my fellow commissioners for helping guide me in my initial months on the panel.” Pete Samaniego has lived in Lakewood for 22 years, and is a familiar face to many households because he’s a longtime letter carrier for the Postal Service in Lakewood. “I enjoy being on the Planning Commission,” says Pete, “because we try very hard to help the community come to reasonable decisions that affect our neighbors and neighborhoods. I love Lakewood as a community for many reasons, including the commitment that parents make when coaching and leading children in sports, the arts, etc. The parents who are able to do that are helping the entire community, including those children whose parents aren’t able to help.” (Cont'd on Pg. 7)