‘A Taste of the Rams’ aim to fight hunger

INGLEWOOD, CA – Fighting to get food to those who go without is a challenge in Los Angeles County. According to a 2023 report put out by Dornsife, 30 percent of the county residents have a difficult time with food security. 

The Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank are aiming to help turn those numbers around. And so, every year for the past nine years, the Rams and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank have partnered to host an event that raises money to help bring in more food supplies to the hungry. 

On Sept. 16, the “9th Annual A Taste of the Rams” event was held on the grounds of SoFi Stadium to fundraise for the most charitable cause, and that is fighting hunger. 

“This event is really important,” said Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This is the ninth year, the Taste of the Rams event. The Rams reached out to us nine years ago when they returned to LA, and it’s really important for us to have this connection and really raise awareness the food bank is doing and raise money…that’s what this event does to help people in our community.”

The importance of the work that the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank does cannot be understated. Just this year alone, up until the end of August, the food bank distributed 82 million pounds of food and grocery products. 

This breaks down or equals to 66 million meals. Even more startling is the fact that since COVID-19 hit, the food bank has put out more than 600 million pounds of food and groceries. Among the highlights of “A Taste of the Rams,” were culinary experts showcasing their dishes to food enthusiasts and sports fans alike. 

The 2024 rookie class of the Rams, the team cheerleaders,  as well as former offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Andrew Whitworth, the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, were in attendance for the elaborate food-tasting event.

Among the items displayed included were the Nashville Hot Pulled Chicken Slider with Kaleslaw by Chef Kim Prince, Spicy Rigatoni alla vodka presented by Chef Jackson Kalb, a Korean fried chicken dish called “Chimmelier” by Chef Dustin Lee, the Crispy Pork Belly sandwich from Chef David LeFevre (Local LA), and the Philly Beef Slider made by Chef Erick Cayetano from the eatery Cork & Batter in Inglewood.   

Rams rookie running back Blake Corum believes the team’s philanthropic efforts align with his charitable vision to help others.    

“I am so blessed to come to an organization that has the same vision as I do,and that’s really just giving back,” Corum said. “Football is amazing…but football is through by the end of the day. We go to practice. We work hard. We go out on Sunday and play a game. That’s easy. But there’s real-life struggles out there, and the Rams organization they do a phenomenal job by really trying to help those in need.”