L.A. Care Tackles Food Insecurity Caused by COVID-19

East L.A. sponsors a food pantry at The Garage Board Shop

The Health Plan is Sponsoring Food Pantries across L.A. County

COVID-19 has resulted in millions of job losses across the country, which has left families at risk of going hungry. The nonprofit Feeding America estimates that more than 54 million Americans, including 18 million children, may experience food insecurity because of the pandemic.

L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan, believes no one should have to choose between feeding his or her family and paying rent or some other bill. The health plan, through its Resource Center network, is committing tens of thousands of dollars in support of drive-thru food pantries that will feed thousands of families across L.A. County.  

The Inglewood Family Resource Center is collaborating with the Crenshaw Family YMCA on one food pantry and the Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center on one food pantry. The Pacoima Family Resource Center is collaborating with MEND-Meet Each Need with Dignity for four food pantries. The Boyle Heights Family Resource Center is collaborating with Seeds of Hope on 10 food pantries. The Community Resource Center in Palmdale is collaborating with One Love Food Ministry on three food pantries, Antelope Valley Dream Center on one food pantry, and South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES) on two food pantries. The Community Resource Center in East L.A. is collaborating with The Garage Board Shopthe Los Angeles Education Partnership, and the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA for a total of five food pantries. The Community Resource Center in Lynwood is collaborating with 5 Breads 2 Fish on two food pantries, with Food Help on two food pantries, and with Community Healing Gardens on one Produce Pop-Up with locally-grown produce. And, the Community Resource Center in Pomona will collaborate with God’s Pantry on three food pantries.

Staff at each event will practice all the proper social distancing and safety precautions while distributing bags of groceries. Patrons are asked to stay in their cars, and the staff, wearing masks and gloves, will place bags in the opened trunk of vehicles or pass the bags through the window. While they are primarily drive-thru events, walk-ups will be allowed.

In most cases, each family will receive produce and dry goods, and an L.A. Care Resource Center package.

To date, $179,500 has been committed for 34 confirmed L.A. Care sponsored drive-thru food pantries and one Produce Pop-Up that will feed more than 14,400 families. They are:

Friday, July 10
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Garage Board Shop
759 S Atlantic Blvd, East Los Angeles

Thursday, July 16
3:00- 5:00 pm
Lynwood Family Resource Center
3200 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood

Thursday, July 23
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Crenshaw Family YMCA
3820 Santa Rosalia Drive, Los Angeles

Saturday, July 25
9:00 am – Noon
Community Resource Center in Pomona
696 W Holt Ave, Pomona

Monday, July 27
1:00 - 3:00 pm
East Rancho Dominguez Service Center
15116 Atlantic Avenue, Compton

Friday, July 31
9:00 am – Noon
Belvedere Community Regional Park
4914 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles

Friday, July 31
9:00 - 11:00 am
Church of the Epiphany
2808 Altura Street, Los Angeles

Thursday, August 6
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Desert Vineyard Church
1011 E. Avenue I, Lancaster

Friday, August 7
9:00 am - Noon
Boyle Heights Family Resource Center
1773 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles (USC Parking Lot 10)

Friday, August 7
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Garage Board Shop
759 S Atlantic Blvd, East Los Angeles

Friday, August 7
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Whittier Narrows Park (Area D Parking Lot)
505 Santa Anita Avenue, El Monte

Tuesday, August 11
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
One Love Food Ministry
208 West Pillsbury Street, Lancaster

Thursday, August 13
9:00 am - Noon
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
2109 Chickasaw Avenue, Los Angeles

Friday, August 14
8:00 - 11:00 am
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
2808 Altura Street, Los Angeles

Friday, August 14
9:00 am – 11:00 am
MEND- Meet Each Need with Dignity
10641 N.San Fernando Road, Pacoima

Wednesday, August 19
1:00 - 6:00 pm
God's Pantry
250 E Center St, Pomona

Friday, August 21
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA 
2900 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles

Friday, August 21
8:00 am - Noon
Seeds of Hope
3303 N. Broadway, Los Angeles

Saturday, August 22
8:00 am - Noon
Downey First Christian Church
10900 La Reina Ave Downey

Thursday, August 27
9:00 am - Noon
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
2109 Chickasaw Avenue, Los Angeles

Friday, August 28
9:00 am – 11:00 am
MEND- Meet Each Need with Dignity
10641 N.San Fernando Road, Pacoima

Friday, August 28
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA 
2900 Whittier Boulevard., Los Angeles

Saturday, August 29
8:00 am - Noon
Downey First Christian Church
10900 La Reina Ave Downey

Thursday, September 3
1:00 - 4:00 pm
South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES)
1002 E. Avenue Q-12, Palmdale

Thursday, September 10
9:00 - 11:00 am
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
2109 Chickasaw Avenue, Los Angeles

Friday, September 11
8:00 - 10:00 am
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
2808 Altura Street, Los Angeles

Friday, September 11
9:00 am – 11:00 am
MEND- Meet Each Need with Dignity
10641 N.San Fernando Road, Pacoima

Friday, September 11
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Swap Meet
5550 Pearblossom Hwy, Palmdale

Saturday, September 12
9:00 am - Noon
Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center
9900 South Vermont, Los Angeles

Saturday, September 12
9:30 - 11:00 am
Eastside Union School District Community Center
45006 N. 30th Street East, Lancaster

Saturday, September 19
9:00 am – Noon
Community Resource Center in Pomona
696 W Holt Ave, Pomona

Thursday, September 24
1:00 - 4:00 pm
South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES)
1002 E. Avenue Q-12, Palmdale

Friday, September 25
8:00 - 10:00 am
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
2808 Altura Street, Los Angeles

Friday, September 25
9:00 am – 11:00 am
MEND- Meet Each Need with Dignity
10641 N.San Fernando Road, Pacoima

Friday, October 2
9:00 - 11:00 am
Seeds of Hope
3303 N. Broadway, Los Angeles

These 34 food pantries and one Produce Pop-Up are just the beginning of food security support that L.A. Care will be funding into the fall. Check back often as new dates and locations will be added as they are confirmed.*

Learn more about how L.A. Care is supporting our members, providers and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Updated September 8, 2020