Families Turn to Food Pantries to Get Nutritious Foods Otherwise Out of Reach

Anthony and Ariella turn to the Immanuel Presbyterian food pantry to get nutritious food.

In tough times, individuals begin looking for ways to save money, whether it’s carpooling, sharing entertainment services, skipping the coffee shop, or seeking free local resources. Spending large amounts of money isn’t part of the plan, which may be an issue when going to the grocery store and seeing the ever-rising cost of food.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has also felt the rising cost of everyday essentials. Thanks to food donations from growers, wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, the Food Bank purchases only around 10% of the food that goes out to our neighbors through our Partner Agency Network, through direct and indirect programs. Despite the rising cost of food and other expenses, the Food Bank is dedicated to alleviating hunger in LA County, serving an average of 900,000 individuals each month.

Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown is one of the hundreds of nonprofit organizations that partner with the Food Bank, allowing us to maximize our reach. At each distribution, hundreds of families line up as early as 3 a.m. for an opportunity to get nutritious food to help them get through the week.

Healthy Ingredients for a Nutritious Meal

Anthony and Ariella are among the hundreds of individuals who attend the Wednesday distributions at Immanuel Presbyterian. With just one income in their household, the young couple has found ways to get the most out of it. By attending the food distributions, Anthony and Ariella can save money at the grocery store while getting different food items and discovering new recipes.

Like many other partner agency distributions, Anthony and Ariella, as well as the hundreds of families who attend these distributions, have access to nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and canned goods, among other items. Thanks to these distributions, thousands of families don’t have to sacrifice their health or money for a meal.

Your contribution to the Food Bank goes a long way, with 97% of all proceeds going directly to supporting Food Bank programs. Consider making a donation today.