Flutist Larkin Stentz performed while customers came to pick up meals.

LONG BEACH — A free “drive-thru” community dinner offered April 5 at The Cove Restaurant in Long Beach drew hundreds and raised more than $1,700 in donations for the Ocean Park Food Bank.

A line of cars snaked several blocks at the start of the dinner but moved swiftly with the aid of several volunteers who handed out bagged takeout orders and accepted donations in a plastic jug.

In total, 366 adult meals and 56 children’s meals were served in three-hours.

“It’s just extraordinary for the community,” said Rick Larson, a resident of Long Beach, who picked up two meals for neighbors who couldn’t come themselves. Larson, a member of the golf course and club champion, praised the effort of the staff, volunteers and generous community members.

Owner Doug Brown said the idea started as a response to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

“Our chef and food provider [Sysco Foods] got to talking about the impact on businesses and restaurants shutting down. Sysco Foods had a lot of extra food, so they made a donation. We figured why not give it to the community? The team at The Cove cooked all the food up, which they estimated at 200 meals, but it ended up being more than 300.”