A Food Pantry Offering Young Adults, Like Derrick, Food and Hope

Derrick was close to living on the streets before hearing about Covenant House, an LA Regional Food Bank partner agency.

When Derrick first walked through the doors of Covenant House, he was tired, alone — and hungry.

He had just aged out of a family shelter on Skid Row and didn’t know where else to go. “The only place I knew to go was a park to sleep,” he shared. A friend told him about Covenant House, one of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s partner agencies. He showed up not knowing what to expect.

But what happened next changed everything.

“They were asking me, ‘Where are you staying now?’ ‘Do you have food?’ I’d never had anyone care about me like this.”

For young adults like Derrick, food isn’t just nutrition—it’s connection. It’s dignity. It’s the first step toward stability. Thanks to the healthy meals provided through the Food Bank, Covenant House was able to meet Derrick’s most basic needs from the very start.

“All of the food is healthy,” Derrick said. “Every shelter has food to give to anyone who is hungry.”

From that first meal, Derrick began to rebuild his life. He completed all three programs at Covenant House, found work, and saved up enough to move into his own apartment. Today, he’s helping other young people find their footing—offering hope, just as it was offered to him.

“I was excited to be able to help out young adults like I was helped. Every donor is changing lives. Everything that’s given counts, every penny, every word.”

Your support makes stories like Derrick’s possible. Every dollar you give helps deliver nutritious food to thousands of Angelenos experiencing hunger and hardship—especially through our network of partner agencies that provide not only meals, but long-term support.