PazNaz has become a haven for families seeking the nearest food pantries in the Pasadena area

As living expenses climb in Los Angeles County, families from various income levels and backgrounds seek food assistance from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and its partner agencies.

Among these agencies, the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, also known as PazNaz, stands out as a strong supporter of its community. Every week, hundreds of families visit PazNaz to receive the nutritious food they need to make ends meet.

Rohan, a Caregiver, Goes to a Food Pantry That Cares for Him and His Family

Times were tough before the pandemic, but the catastrophic event changed the lives of millions. Rohan is a caregiver by trade. When his patient passed away during the pandemic, Rohan lost his job, the income that would help care for the 11 people in his household. 

Since then, Rohan has been working odd jobs here and there to pay the mortgage, but attending the food distribution at PazNaz has been a lifesaver for Rohan and his family. There, he receives nutritious food that he would not be able to afford at the grocery store otherwise. 

“Normally, I go to the stores, and I go to the clearance section,” he said. “Most of it is damaged but here, they give a really good product.”

Esther Replaces Trips to the Grocery Store with PazNaz

Every time Ester goes to the grocery store, she’s astonished to see the rising prices on essential items that used to be more affordable. Living with her son and daughter-in-law, Esther tries to save as much money as she can where she can. Slowly, her grocery store budget changed. She can no longer purchase the same amount of groceries with the same amount of money.

When her friend told her about the PazNaz food distribution, Esther didn’t hesitate to check it out, and ever since, she has tried to make it out to the distributions and receive the food they need.