The Neighborhood Nip Foundation successfully distributed around 5,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to families in South Los Angeles during its first annual turkey drive held on November 21, 2023. This community initiative took place at the foundation’s parking lot on Slauson Avenue, a site of significant personal and cultural importance, as it was once the location of the late Nipsey Hussle‘s original Marathon Clothing store.
Samiel Asghedom, Hussle’s brother and a key figure in the foundation, expressed the emotional connection to the site. “This is where my brother first sold his mixtape. He ended up opening businesses in this parking lot and then buying the whole lot,” Asghedom stated. He emphasized the transformation of the space into a community-centric hub, noting, “We turned this whole lot into the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. So, it’s real important to be able to activate from here.”
The event marked the foundation’s first public outreach since converting the retail lot into a community center aimed at supporting local youth and families. Alongside the Neighborhood Nip Foundation, the Think Watts Foundation partnered in this initiative, working to ensure that families in need received turkeys for the holiday.
Many community members attended the giveaway, including Charles Wright and his grandson, who expressed gratitude for the efforts, saying, “We came to get turkeys and everything is wonderful.”
Asghedom underscored the foundation’s commitment to ongoing community support, stating, “I think any time we can come out and help, throughout the year is the plan. It’s an honor to be able to activate and do something here.”
The revitalized site will serve as a community center for students from elementary through high school, offering academic resources as well as access to music studies and recording studios.
This event also serves as a poignant reminder of the impact Nipsey Hussle had in his community before his tragic death on March 31, 2019, when he was fatally shot outside his store in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The beloved artist was 33 years old and left behind two children.
As the Neighborhood Nip Foundation continues to foster community development, this turkey drive illustrates a promising step towards building a supportive environment for future generations in South Los Angeles.
