The Giving Season

Palisades Realtors Plan Two-Tiered Food Drive Event

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

First, there was the delivery of more than 500 pumpkins throughout Pacific Palisades in October.

Next, Realtors Devin McNichol and Aaron Bernbach—who form the McNichol Bernbach Group of Rodeo Realty—will host a Thanksgiving Food Drive at the Palisades office to benefit the Westside Food Bank.

“We got a fantastic response from the people of the Palisades,” Bernbach said of when they delivered the pumpkins, which went to community members all across town and served as invitations to participate in the food drive.

The two were inspired by taking a Rodeo Realty tradition of delivering pumpkins and putting their own variation on it, culminating in giving back to the Santa Monica-based Westside Food Bank, a nonprofit founded in 1981.

“We have always supported charitable organizations and nonprofits,” Bernbach shared. “Both of us were taught at a young age the importance of coming together as a community and giving back.”

The two brainstormed, taking into consideration advice from members of the community, and landed on a food drive.

“We have both volunteered with food banks and cooked and served meals for people during the holidays,” McNichol added. “We truly value the importance of charitable endeavors and the pride in working together as a community.”

During the event, canned and packaged food items will be collected in exchange for raffle tickets and free lunch, provided by an on-site gourmet food truck. Prizes for the raffle include gift certificates and products from local Palisades businesses, including restaurants, salons, flowers, movie tickets and more.

The two selected Westside Food Bank as the beneficiary because the group provides more than five million pounds of food each year to 70-plus service agencies.

“We can accomplish more together than we can as individuals,” Bernbach shared, “and participating in events like these is a wonderful way to unite the neighborhood. This food drive will do so much good for so many people all across the Westside of Los Angeles and it is a great way for people to kick off the holiday season.”

The inaugural McNichol

Bernbach Group Thanksgiving Food Drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on November 23 in front of Rodeo Realty, located at 839 Via De La Paz.

For more information, call 310-828-6016 or visit westsidefoodbankca.org.