Recently, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank received a larger capacity grant, allowing the Food Bank to purchase items for agency partners to help increase an organization’s capabilities to distribute food to those in need. The Food Bank’s agency network consists of over 600 nonprofits, including churches, volunteer or community organizations based throughout LA County that help the Food Bank distribute food and essential items for specific programs.

Having reliable access to cold storage can also result in unintended food waste as perishable food items such as dairy, fresh produce and meat have set shelf life guidelines. To reduce food waste and help address food insecurity, Senate Bill 1383 requires that by 2025, California will recover 20% of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills to feed people in need. 

• What is considered edible? Please download our Shelf Life Guide to empower you and your family to help us fight food waste > 

“Lots of the families that we serve are really looking for these fresh food items but if the agency doesn’t have the capacity to store it, there is a food safety issue,” said Elizabeth Cervantes, LA Regional Food Bank Sr. Director of Agency Relations. “Agencies are so happy to partner with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in this collaboration because this equipment truly helps them distribute more food efficiently and help the families that they serve.”