A Food Pantry Helping Neighbors in Koreatown

The St. James Episcopal Church’s weekly food pantry helps hundreds of individuals put food on the table.

Considered the most residentially dense neighborhood in Los Angeles County, Koreatown is home to the St. James Episcopal Church, a Los Angeles Regional Food Bank partner agency. Hundreds of individuals, regardless of religious denomination, line up on Wilshire Boulevard to receive food assistance every Thursday.

While the majority of those individuals are housed, a small population is unhoused and attends the distributions. For that, Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Helm and her team of volunteers prepare two different sets of food bags; one bag kit designed for housed individuals includes shelf-stable items, rice, milk, and produce, while the bag kit meant for the unhoused will include ready-to-eat items and a hygiene kit.

A Food Pantry That’s a Lifeline for Gary

Gary is an older adult living in Koreatown. He recently got out of rehabilitation and has little to no energy. However, he likes to attend the food distribution at St. James Episcopal Church near his home every Thursday.

Through a friend, Gary connected with Kathy, who then told him more about the weekly food distribution. Since then, Gary has been a regular at the distributions, obtaining nutritious food that will help him get more energy to live his life to the fullest.

Lending a Helping Hand

Before becoming the Church’s Food Pantry Coordinator, Kathy volunteered with the pantry by greeting neighbors, welcoming those returning, or getting to know first-timers. While in that position, Kathy met a young mother and her two sons, who went to the food distribution every week. Through time, the mother and her children continued attending the distribution, talking to Kathy whenever they saw her or asking if she was around when she was taking on other tasks.

For Kathy, seeing the mother and her sons grow through the years has been heartwarming and rewarding. She has also witnessed firsthand the food pantry’s impact on the neighborhood.

If you would like to support food programs like the one available at the St. James Episcopal Church, consider donating to the LA Regional Food Bank where 96% of all proceeds go directly to supporting our communities.