PACOIMA : Golfers Join Drive to Feed Homeless

A madras-clad army of San Fernando Valley residents will descend on Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima on Monday for a tournament without losers.

The real winners won’t be around for the 7 a.m. tee time, but they’ll be at the Hansen Dam overlook on Thanksgiving and every Thursday that follows, lunching on food collected at the tournament.

The event, which requires golfers to bring food donations, is the brainchild of golf pro Art Collins. The food will help supply a group that cooks for the area’s homeless population, serving hot home-cooked meals every Thursday from the trunks of their cars.

The homeless and hungry line up each Thursday at the overlook on Osborne Street for the food that, more often than not, is paid for from the volunteers’ pockets.

Pacoima resident Ada Robinson, 83, started taking food to the homeless three years ago.

“I started out of my car with two, three women,” she said. “Now I have five cooks.”

And they feed dozens each week.

“Some weeks we get 50, 60, 70. It varies. We’ve been up to 80,” said 69-year-old Lloyd McConnell.

Last year’s tournament, with 143 participants, brought in box loads of goods, Collins said.

“It lasted a good four months,” said McConnell of Pacoima.

Collins, 56, of Arleta started the tournament last year to help the group that is out helping others, “every Thursday, rain or shine.”

Competition isn’t exactly fierce for the paper certificate given the winning foursome, Collins said.

“It’s a turkey shoot. I don’t think anybody in the tournament cares whether they win or lose,” he said. “It’s just a fun day to go out and play.”

It costs $45 to play in the tournament, money used to cover green fees and cart rentals. Participants must also contribute at least two cans of food.

Collins can be reached at (818) 896-0050 or 893-0024.