Surfing family, known for battling the waves, now fight coronavirus pandemic

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The Skudin family has been known in Long Beach for generations as the Surfing Family. The entire family rides the waves, they teach surfing and operate a summer camp for young people with autism and other challenges.

Now, instead of taking on the waves, the Skudins are fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Cliff Skudin and other family members and employees of the Skudin Surf Club, have set up space off the Boardwalk on Riverside Boulevard to hand out food packages and other supplies to needy children. They also deliver packages to people unable to leave their apartments.

Skudin said he and the others hand out packages of food and other supplies, such as sanitizers and toilet paper, every day, and have been doing so for the last two weeks. He said he believed about 200 food packages have been handed out, The Skudins are working with the PTA and the Long Beach School Board.

'These are very tough times," Skudin said. "There are needy kids and people who can't o outside. If somebody is in need, we are here to help them."

Skudin said he worked with Jeanine Sorensen, a Long Beach school psychologist who works at the Skudin summer camp, to work out details of the food donations and deliveries. Theresa McCarthy and Margaret Long, of the Long Beach PTA, also helped daily with logistics and volunteering. Kyle Swan and Michael I. DeVito of Long Beach schools provided assistance as well.

The Skudin family has been teaching surfing for the last 30 years. The Skudin surf shop opened five years ago at 1 Riverside Boulevard.

Anyone wishing to make donations should visit info@surfforall.org.