When Help Can’t Wait: How Food Assistance Supports Neighbors Like Lidia and Rue When It Matters Most
When Help Can’t Wait: How Food Assistance Supports Neighbors Like Lidia and Rue When It Matters Most
For Lidia, food assistance is crucial as she goes through the loss of employment and a parent. Meanwhile, Rue is feeling the effects of inflation.
There are different reasons why over one million individuals turn to the LA Regional Food Bank for assistance each month. Whether it’s due to job loss, benefits depleting, or to supplement one’s pantry, the Food Bank and its hundreds of partner agencies do their best to meet the needs of our neighbors with dignity and respect. Those seeking food assistance attend distributions not because they want to, but because they need to.
Lidia: “We Need All the Help We Can Get”
During a recent drive-through distribution, the Food Bank met Lidia, who was unemployed, had lost her CalFresh benefits, and had recently lost her mother. The food assistance she received at that distribution would help feed her and her family of seven, providing crucial support when she needed it most.
“It’s a family of seven, so we need all the help we can get, so that’s why I’m here,” she said.
At the distribution, she picked up essentials like eggs, milk, chicken, and potatoes—ingredients she could turn into nourishing meals like chicken soup to feed her family. Without that support, Lidia wouldn’t know what she would do to put food on the table.
Having a Job Doesn’t Always Cover All Expenses
Like many neighbors across Los Angeles County, Rue and his family are feeling the effects of inflation. While he has full-time employment, it’s simply not enough to cover all expenses and needs in an ever-growing economy.
“It’s expensive out here,” Rue said. “Wherever you can get some help, it’s very vital.”
For Rue, access to fresh produce made a meaningful difference. Vegetables like tomatoes and squash enabled preparing healthy meals, planning ahead, and ending the day feeling satisfied rather than stressed.
Why Food Assistance Matters
Lidia and Rue’s experiences underscore a critical truth: food insecurity isn’t always ongoing—it’s often sudden. Whether it’s a delay in benefits, a seasonal expense, or a moment when costs outweigh income. If food assistance isn’t available right away, it prevents families from falling deeper into crisis.
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