africActive: Helping the Food Bank Fight Hunger in Los Angeles County

Learn how Food Bank partner agency africActive is helping fight hunger, support working families and seniors, and build a stronger community.

Every Saturday, families and seniors in the Mid-City/ West Adams community come together to receive something that can make a meaningful difference in their week: nutritious food, essential goods, and the support of neighbors who care.

At the heart of this effort is africActive, a dedicated community organization and proud partner agency of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Through weekly food distributions, a growing volunteer network, and a commitment to serving the community with dignity and compassion, africActive is helping the Food Bank fight hunger and support neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet.

AfricActive began during the early days of the pandemic. What was initially expected to last just two weeks quickly became something much bigger. AfricActive didn’t lock down; instead, it remained present in the community and provided essential food resources to neighbors in times of need. More than six years later, that commitment continues.

AfricActive serves an area where access to free food resources can be limited. Its location near a train station also makes the organization accessible to people without a car, while those driving through the area can conveniently pick up food as part of their daily routines.

And the need is clear.

According to Virginia Beaboa, Director of Operations at africActive, many attendees of the food distributions are working families and older adults. They have jobs and resources, but those resources simply aren’t stretching far enough.

“Everyone who comes through that we have on a regular basis, they all have jobs,” she explained. “They all have resources. They don’t have enough.”

Working Together to Provide Essential Food Assistance

Every Saturday, africActive serves approximately 250 to 300 people each week, distributing roughly 16,000 pounds of food with support from the Food Bank. That partnership has been instrumental to africActive’s ability to serve its neighbors.

“Our number one partner, which is the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, has been walking alongside us since the beginning,” said Thrinicko Beaboa, President and Founder of africActive.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the Los Angeles Food Bank.”

The food distributed through africActive not only helps families stretch their grocery budgets, it also provides access to fresh food that may otherwise be difficult for some households to afford. If you would like to get involved in the fight against hunger, consider donating to the Food Bank or volunteering.