IN OUR COMMUNITY - Los Angeles Dodgers
IN OUR COMMUNITY - Los Angeles Dodgers
IN OUR COMMUNITY - Los Angeles Dodgers
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ethier at union rescue Mission<br />
FIVe years aGo, when he first began playing<br />
for the <strong>Los</strong> angeles <strong>Dodgers</strong>, andre ethier<br />
walked by the Union rescue Mission, which<br />
provides shelter, food and helps people get<br />
off skid row. He knew soon thereafter that he<br />
wanted to help out.<br />
“I lived in downtown L.a. for my first three<br />
seasons,” said ethier. “I got a chance to see firsthand<br />
what this was all about, what’s going on<br />
with the poverty and the homeless people down<br />
here. I came to the <strong>Dodgers</strong> and said, ‘How can<br />
I make more awareness and lend my hand to<br />
hopefully help out?’”<br />
on June 24, ethier showed up to help cook<br />
Dodger Dogs, donated by Farmer John, and<br />
served food to the dozens of guests at the mission<br />
that day. This has been a tradition, said<br />
Union rescue Mission Ceo andy Bales, since<br />
ethier’s rookie season when he walked into the<br />
building one day and started to help cook food.<br />
“It always encourages me to have andre take<br />
the time to come out and visit,” said Bales. “It<br />
really means a ton to our guests. It lights up<br />
their day and gives them hope and they get to<br />
meet a caring, loving guy who’s well known and<br />
really lifts the spirits of our guests.”<br />
For ethier, he’s just trying to make a difference<br />
in the part of the city that he once called<br />
home during the season.<br />
“you see what goes on here,” said ethier.<br />
“sometimes, you can make a big impact immediately<br />
right around you, and that’s what we are<br />
trying to do here – make a big impact immediately<br />
around us. This is not too far from Dodger<br />
stadium and everyone might think poverty is<br />
not in this country. Well, it’s going on right in<br />
front of our eyes here.”<br />
(Clockwise from top): Before he could serve the food, Andre Ethier helped grill Dodger<br />
Dogs, donated by Farmer John. The Dodger right fielder had a smile to go with some<br />
food for this young girl. Ethier chatted with the other volunteers serving lunch.<br />
community report 21
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