The Los Angeles Chargers and the Spanos family have announced a $500k donation to be put towards Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and, with additional support from corporate partners Albertsons Companies, Alexander's Mobility Services and The Dingman Group, will also hold a food and supply drive on Wednesday, Sept. 6 to aid victims of the historic flooding that has occurred over the past week throughout Southeast Texas. 
 
The donation amount will be distributed to several organizations on the ground aiding in disaster relief efforts, including the Houston Food Bank, American Red Cross and Houston SPCA.  
 
"Watching the images coming out of Houston this week has been heartbreaking," said Chargers Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos. "Having lived through the devastation of the wildfires in San Diego County, we felt it was important to do something – in addition to a monetary donation – that would provide tangible help in real time to assist those who now suddenly find themselves without a home.  We know first-hand this will be a long process of recovery, and every amount of support will help.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Southeast Texas, and we want them to know more help is on the way."  
 
For 12 hours beginning at 6 am Wednesday morning, a semi-trailer truck will be stationed in front of the Vons grocery store at 4520 Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles to collect food and supplies identified by the Houston Food Bank as items of need.  Items which Angelenos may bring or purchase at Vons include: pop-top, ready-to-eat items; shelf-stable pantry items such as peanut butter, tuna and soup; bottled water; hand-held snack items such as granola bars; cleaning supplies such as paper towels and bleach; new personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste; and diapers, both baby and adult sizes.
 
Chargers players – some of whom have family and friends directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey – as well as General Manager Tom Telesco, Head Coach Anthony Lynn, members of the Spanos family and the Charger Girls will be on hand throughout the day to assist in loading the truck, purchase supplies themselves, make donations and meet fellow donors pitching in.
 
At the end of the day's event, Alexander's Mobility Services and The Dingman Group will fill whatever room remains on the truck with more food and supplies and dispatch their semi directly to the Houston Food Bank.
 
All Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores nationwide, including the 4520 Sunset Blvd. Vons location, are running a hurricane relief checkstand fundraiser that will run until September 13. In addition to donating food and supplies on Wednesday, customers can make monetary donations to aid disaster relief, with Albertsons Companies and The Albertsons Companies Foundation matching the first $200,000 donated nationally.
 
For information about how you can support the Houston Food Bank, American Red Cross and Houston SPCA, visit houstonfoodbank.org, redcross.org and houstonspca.org.