Baron Davis and Craig Smith grew up on the streets of historically underprivileged South Los Angeles. On Saturday, the two returned to their old neighborhood as NBA starters for the historically underperforming Los Angeles Clippers to hand out food with teammates and The Salvation Army.
South Los Angeles has been especially hard-hit by the economic recession. Mortimer Jones, executive director of the South L.A. Salvation Army, said they gave out as much food on the one afternoon as they usually do in an entire week.
Francisco Solis, 38, waited in line with his wife, Esperanza, and his two young daughters, taking swigs from a Coke can under the hot afternoon sun. Solis and his wife work in the garment district but don't get as much work as they once did, he said...."We're poor," he said. "We don't have much, and our salaries are small, and there isn't much work."...Among those who were employed, many said they didn't have enough work. Daisy Williams, 51, of South Los Angeles said her hours as a home care provider have been cut in half during the last year. Her husband, a handyman who once brought in $40,000 a year, now brings in only about $10,000..."It's been the worst year of my life," she said.
The Clippers are also sponsoring The Salvation Army's Points For Pounds Challenge, pledging to donate 25 pounds of food for every three-pointer scored by the team this season.