High levels of inflation in 2022 made life more challenging for vulnerable communities in Los Angeles County, which were still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. With prices rising across the board, essential items such as food, utilities and housing have become increasingly unaffordable for those who are already struggling to make ends meet. This results in an elevated need for budgetary relief, as families have to choose between paying for basic necessities and putting food on the table. Inflation has created an additional layer of financial stress for individuals and families, exacerbating the existing economic challenges faced by low-income and underserved communities.

In 2022, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank exceeded the ambitious Building Hope campaign goal of $165 million, raising $177 million. The success of the campaign allows the Food Bank to expand programs, renovate the City of Industry distribution center, reduce food waste and increase food distribution efforts. The new facility enables the Food Bank to expand its services and better serve those in need well into the future. The campaign received donations from a wide range of individuals and organizations, including corporations, foundations and philanthropists. The new facility will be equipped with
state-of-the-art technology to glean and package food for later distribution throughout LA County.

The successful completion of the campaign could not have been possible without the incredible support from the Food Bank’s Board of Directors, the Building Hope Campaign Committee and a community of very generous donors. Building Hope represents a major step forward in the fight against hunger in Los Angeles.

Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) is a vital community-based organization that has been working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of Antelope Valley residents, despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

AVPH, like many of the Food Bank’s partner agencies, provides food assistance to older adults who were disproportionately impacted by inflation. Many seniors are on fixed incomes, so as the cost of goods and services rises, their fixed income may no longer be sufficient to cover their expenses, leaving them struggling to make ends meet. Seniors often have higher healthcare costs than younger adults, and healthcare costs have been rising faster than the rate of inflation in recent years. In Los Angeles County, where the cost of living is already high, this can be an even greater burden for seniors.