# Produce pickups, movie nights, and a cleanup that’s still going

> What I’ve organized in Ladera Heights, from a driveway produce pickup during COVID to a monthly cleanup that’s six years old.

By Ran Craycraft · October 4, 2026 · Leading
Web page: https://rancraycraft.com/leading/produce-movie-nights-and-a-cleanup/

- Organization: Ladera Heights
- Role: Neighborhood organizer and civic association board member
- When: 2020 to present
- Focus: Food access, community events, and neighborhood upkeep
- Outcome: A driveway produce pickup for neighbors, including seniors
- Outcome: Sixteen weeks of drive-in movie nights
- Outcome: A monthly cleanup still running six years later

## The situation

When the pandemic arrived, the things that held our neighborhood together stopped. People couldn't get to the store safely, and there was no easy way to see each other. Ladera Heights also sits at the intersection of three jurisdictions, which leaves gaps in who takes care of what.

## What I did

### Fresh produce, picked up from my driveway

I organized a neighborhood produce pickup to help residents, including seniors, get farm-fresh food safely. They pulled up, opened the trunk, and I loaded a box of produce.

### Sixteen weeks of neighborhood movie nights

I produced a weekly drive-in movie series during the pandemic, giving neighbors a way to enjoy an evening together while keeping their distance.

### A monthly cleanup

I started a monthly cleanup to fill the gaps in maintenance and to bring neighbors together around a shared responsibility.

## What changed

The cleanup is still going six years later. What started as a way to cover for three jurisdictions became a regular reason for neighbors to meet.