The LA Regional Food Bank, ABC7, Stater Bros., and other Southern California regional food banks organized the 11th Annual Feed SoCal Food Drive, providing more than 3 million meals for food-insecure families

The 11th installment of Feed SoCal launched June 1 and ran through June 30. During the campaign, community members were invited to contribute to the cause by making financial gifts for food-insecure families. Southern California food banks benefiting from the hunger initiative include the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino and Food Share and Ventura County’s Food Bank. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home moved up 11.7% compared to last year. For low-income families, rising costs can quickly add up against an already-tight budget. The Food Bank and its partner agency of 600+ work continuously to help fill the hunger gap, so families don’t have to sacrifice nutritious meals to make ends meet. 

Food Drive Collection

ABC7 and event partners organized a collection day on Friday, June 17, from 11 AM – 6:30 PM at a Stater Bros. located in Whittier, CA. Community members were invited to donate non-perishable food items or purchase a $5 food bag. Additionally, throughout the campaign, supporters were encouraged to donate during check out at their participating Stater Bros. stores, visit a Subaru retailer where Feed SoCal collection boxes were set up, or donate through ABC7. 

The Food Bank honored invaluable partnerships at the Food Drive event, including Stater Brothers, Enterprise, Subaru, Farmers and Merchants, and Don Lee Farms. Support from the community poured in, from local shoppers to volunteers who made a pit stop to drop off non-perishable food items and to visit with ABC7 TV personalities.

Summer Vacation Can Unfortunately Result in Skipped Meals

Food-insecure children in Los Angeles County can count on meals during the school year, which are not available on summer break. The Feed SoCal Campaign is timed with the end of the school year to bring more awareness around child food insecurity and help food banks when food-insecure families are especially vulnerable to being food-insecure.

The Food Drive event raised more than $100,000 and more than 6,000 pounds of food. These combined will help provide roughly 475,000 nutritious meals to the 2 million food-insecure families and individuals of LA County, including children.