Every weekday evening around 5 p.m., dozens of people gather at the Salvation Army’s Hollywood Campus for a warm Community Dinner served by the Hollywood Food Coalition. For more than 30 years, the food coalition has transformed surplus, high-quality food into nourishing meals, reducing waste while fostering dignity and connection in the community.
That effort is strengthened by local support, including volunteers from Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, who recently helped prepare, pack, and serve meals to guests. Among the evening’s offerings was chicken teriyaki, made using a recipe from the Thrive Global Cookbook — a free digital resource created by Thrive Global, a behavior change technology company founded and led by wellness pioneer Arianna Huffington, in collaboration with Blue Shield Promise.
The cookbook features more than 50 recipes from renowned chefs and culinary professionals, including José Andrés and Ina Garten. Available in 11 languages, it highlights simple, affordable meals created with just a few ingredients, helping make healthy eating more attainable.
Blue Shield Promise also provided the organization with cookware sets and SharkNinja devices, including a blender, coffee maker, and air fryer, to support its Community Dinner program, as well as hard copies of the cookbook to distribute to families — all made possible through Blue Shield Promise’s collaboration with Thrive Global and SharkNinja.
“We are deeply grateful to Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise for their support and to their employees for helping us prepare and serve meals,” said Erin Lovelace, Community Dinner manager at the Hollywood Food Coalition. “The Thrive Global Cookbook makes healthy recipes accessible to families experiencing food insecurity, using ingredients commonly found in food pantries, like those used in tonight’s chicken teriyaki.”
Each Community Dinner serves about 100 guests and offers more than just a meal. Attendees can also access haircuts, clothing, and essential services, including connections to mental health and housing support.
“Hollywood Food Coalition’s Community Dinners create spaces where people feel welcomed, connected, and cared for,” said Kristen Cerf, president and CEO of Blue Shield Promise. “This work aligns with our mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We’re proud to support these efforts by introducing simple, healthy recipes that can be part of everyday life.”
Blue Shield Promise continues to promote awareness of the Thrive Global Cookbook and feature its recipes in various healthy eating, nutrition, and cooking classes at community-based organizations throughout San Diego and Los Angeles counties. The organizations in San Diego County include: Chefs de Cuisine Association of San Diego, Mama’s Kitchen, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center, Project New Village, and Coastal Roots Farm. In Los Angeles County, these include: Active San Gabriel Valley, Food Access Los Angeles, Hollywood Food Coalition, Cultiva Los Angeles, and Homeboy Industries.
The Thrive Global Cookbook is free to view or download online. To learn more about Blue Shield Promise, visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise.
