Dodgers purchase groceries for surprised shoppers in Watts

The Los Angeles Dodgers found a way to turn a difficult situation into a feel-good moment in a South Los Angeles grocery store.

On Thursday morning, as shoppers at a Smart & Final Extra! store in Watts were checking out with carts full of groceries, they received a welcome surprise: the Los Angeles Dodgers had picked up their tab.

Between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, an hour reserved for elderly shoppers and those with disabilities, the Dodgers Foundation paid for everyone’s groceries in the Watts neighborhood grocery store, whether they were purchasing a few dollars worth of goods or $800 worth of items. The charitable act was reported by KTLA5.

The Dodgers Foundation, founded in 1995, has invested more than $30 million in local nonprofits. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the foundation has taken on a new mission to provide relief to those impacted by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers announced earlier this week that they will provide $1.3 million in funding to support stadium workers left without jobs due to the delayed Major League Baseball season.

A lot of generosity that is hopefully culminated by an announcement that they plan to keep their baseball operations staff paid through the end of May, a move almost every other MLB team has made after commissioner Rob Manfred gave the green light for organizations to furlough or reduce the pay of employees effective May 1.

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In a series of interviews with shoppers who received free groceries on Thursday morning, KTLA5 captured the excitement of learning what the Dodgers had done. If you have a few minutes, it’s really worth it to watch the video. With the devastating news about Covid-19 filling the headlines each day, it’s great to see organizations like the Dodgers trying to make the best of the situation by helping people in need. Sometimes a simple gesture can go a long way.