How to Find Your Local Food Pantry in LA County
Unforeseen circumstances in life can impact anyone. Food insecurity rates in the U.S. have been a rising concern even before the pandemic.
Earlier this year, Feeding America projected that 42 million people (1 in 8), including 13 million children (1 in 6), may experience food insecurity in 2021. More than 1 in 4 Los Angeles County households experienced at least one instance of food insecurity — a lack of access to affordable and nutritious food, according to USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The Los Angeles Times reports that estimate is roughly the same right now.
So when you have to head to your local food pantry for the first time, where do you start?
At Farm2People, we’ve had the opportunity to work with incredible partners so far. Those partners help us connect with local farmers to recover and move their produce along a supply chain of distributors. At the end of the move is a food provider working with member agencies who can help a person and family in need find nutritious fruits and vegetables.
When we launch our new online marketplace this year, we hope to significantly increase this food supply chain.
Farm2People Co-Founder Henry Fischer (right) during a food agency move in 2020. Credit: Catalina Muñoz
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which offers an array of programs to help low-income Angelenos, provides a helpful map where you enter your location, and a populated list of pantries and service providers will show up within a certain mile radius from you.
Our agency partner Food Oasis Los Angeles offers a similarly helpful map to find pantries.
When planning to visit a food pantry, remember to:
Learn everything you can about the food pantries and kitchens available to you. Different food banks get different funding. Some pantries are mobile and only travel at certain times during a month or season.
Use several food banks because you may find something at one that you may not find at another, such as a deal with a local gardener who provides extras. Also be aware that nearly every food bank has rules on how often you can go per month or week.
Show up early or at least an hour ahead of time.
Remember any documentation you might need, which is usually a photo ID and proof of residency.
Be polite to pantry workers, who are usually volunteers.
Don’t be afraid to ask about extras, especially if you have children with special diets or needs.
Survey the pantry for cleanliness and safety.
Given the increased need, innovative approaches continue appearing around LA County. LA Community Fridges offers one of these new approaches to food insecurity. They are a network of decentralized, independent refrigerators and pantries that provide food and vital supplies to communities through mutual aid. Here’s their current list of active fridges.
Hunger Action Los Angeles began a food delivery service for people locked down in their homes due to COVID-19 restrictions.
While we cannot highlight every agency and organization making an impact in this post, our examples above are helpful starting points. From there, you can connect to even more partners in the region making a difference!
For those without internet access, call the Los Angeles County Health and Nutrition Hotline at (877) 597-4777 to learn more about different programs, such as CalFresh.
Nationally, Feeding America offers a similar map to help you find a local food bank and pantry. If in a rural area with similar internet access issues, contact your local, regional or state department of social services.
Credit: Catalina Muñoz