Shopping small to save our community

Shopping local and supporting small businesses during the shutdown is vital to saving our local economy and helps to support the employees and their families. They are not getting the business or attention they once received and soon many will be closing their doors. If you have a favorite restaurant in your community, NOW is the time to show our support; incorporate them into your weekly meal plan and enjoy the break from cooking and dishes.

My good friends started a Facebook group for our local community called ‘Save Our Los Alamitos Family Owned Restaurants’. For the past few weeks they have been featuring different restaurants and shops in our community who can use our help and it is working!! if you need some ideas and want to support the community check out the page and follow along.

This week I used funds donated from front porch photo sessions I have been photographing over the past couple weeks to support two of our local businesses. Simply O Organic Juice Bar and Pacific Organic Pops.
If you have been to one, you have seen the other. Simply O and POPS share a store front, both serving up healthy and organic options for your family.

Ryan is the owner of Simply O Organic Juice Bar. Serving up juice, acai bowls, salads and sandwiches. During his 11+ year career with the United States Army National Guard, he invested in the local Los Alamitos youth, as a Youth Advocate for the Sunburst Youth Academy. Intervening and helping reclaim the lives of at-risk kids and high school drop-outs. Not only did he recruit and mentor them, he has been able to provide employment at Simply O. At Simply O, you can get fresh squeezed juices, acai bowls, salads, sandwiches, wraps and bites. My personal recommendation is the Pear-adise juice which is the perfect blend of spinach (which I know seems funky), pineapple, apple and pear or the decadent Chunky Monkey Acai Bowl - which is seriously the best! Peanut butter, banana and chocolate acai, yummmy!

Sarah is the owner of Pacific Organic Pops. She started her shop as a way to provide organic goodness to her customers, creating popscicles with 3-5 ingredients, with dairy free, vegan and cookie pops to provide options for every dietary need and restriction! The primary income has been special events, her pop carts serve as a unique and delicious addition to weddings, birthdays and any special occasion. Now that events are on hold, her shop could use some extra love and support. Varieties range from fresh fruit to wellness pops not to mention they cater to those who need dairy free and gluten free options. Her amazing “STAY COOL“ movement is one we should all live by daily and spread throughout our community… especially now! (check out the “Stay Cool” movement, link at bottom). She also has an amazing Buy 5, get 1 Free, offer!

Today I stopped by both Simply O and POPS. I purchased popsicles from POPS and Acai Bowls from Simply O. The popsicles, along with a donation of Box Combos from Raising Cane’s were delivered to Casa Youth Shelter, for a surprise lunch for the kids and staff at the shelter. Casa Youth Shelter, in Los Alamitos, is a nonprofit organization providing emergency temporary shelter for homeless, runaway, and abandoned youth. 15 Chunky Monkey Acai bowls (which are my personal favorite) were delivered next door to the residents of Precious Life Shelter. Precious Life Shelter is an emergency, transitional, and single parent efficiency program providing a safe environment for pregnant woman with no place to live.

While these were a special treat during such an uncertain time both shelters could use our help. They are in need of cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper, frozen vegetables, non perishables and even grocery gift cards. You can drop them off right outside the door and ring the bell and staff will come and grab them to keep contact minimal and their residents safe. I challenge you, when you are buying essentials for your family, buy one extra and donate it to one of these organizations, or to your personal cause. Ready. Set. Help!

To place your orders ahead of time call
Simply O Juices 562.431.4184
Pacific Organic Pops 562-270-5717

https://www.casayouthshelter.org
https://www.preciouslifeshelter.org
http://www.simplyojuicebar.com
http://pacificorganicpops.com

Visit Pacific Organic Pops & Simply O at 11110 Los Alamitos Blvd, Los Alamitos, CA 90720