How Many Times Can You Use A Food Bank
You are allowed to receive food as many times as you need to feed yourself or your family.
You do not need to do anything differently but should continue to bring your proof of California residency each time.
However, depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days.
Therefore, it is important to call the food pantry first to make sure they are open before you show up.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank saw the power of the Ecosystem of Good fully realized during COVID-19 as Blackbaud solutions helped the Food Bank communicate with its community, capture donations, and convert volunteers to donorsmore than ever before. The Food Bank had over 62,000 new donors in 202015 times more new donors than the previous year, providing an unmistakable opportunity to identify and prioritize prospects for major gifts. With wealth and modeling insights from Blackbaud, the development team acted decisively and secured an increase in major gift dollars of more than 450%.
I Am A Senior Citizen Can I Go To A Food Bank
Yes. Food banks offer programs for seniors who are age and income qualified.
This includes the Commodities Supplemental Food Program a program specifically designed for seniors using USDA commodities.
These food packages are available once a month to qualified seniors.
Seniors who qualify must be over 60 years of age, and provide proof of California residency and proof of income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line.
Proof of income can include a social security benefit statement or participation in federal and state programs such as TANF, SSI, WIC, SNAP , or Medicaid.
Don’t Miss: Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Verona Va
Donate Food To The Los Angeles Food Bank
Additionally, the Los Angeles food bank will gladly accept food donations as well.
Food donations are accepted from Individuals, Food Industry Donations, and Business Donations. See details below.
The best food to donate are foods that are high in fiber, low in sugar, and low in sodium.
Donating these types of foods enable children and families to have the kinds of nutritious meals they need to maintain health.
Volunteer At A Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is one of the best volunteer opportunities in LA.
Volunteers help us by boxing, sorting, and gleaning food that is later distributed through our network of more than 600 agency partners to our neighbors in need.
Groups and individuals can easily register through the food banks website.
Here are the many ways for groups and individuals to get involved:
Recommended Reading: How Food Banks Use Markets To Feed The Poor
Tax Filings And Audits By Year
The IRS Form 990 is an annual information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly. Read the IRS instructions for 990 forms.
If this organization has filed an amended return, it may not be reflected in the data below. Duplicated download links may be due to resubmissions or amendments to an organization’s original return.
Nonprofit organizations that spend $750,000 or more in Federal grant money in a fiscal year are required to submit an audit covering their finances and compliance. Some of these are program specific, while others, called single audits, look at the entire organization. Nonprofit Explorer has PDFs of these audits for some nonprofits for fiscal year 2015 and later. Theyre provided by the Federal Audit Clearinghouse.
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Nonprofit Explorer includes summary data for nonprofit tax returns and full Form 990 documents, in both PDF and digital formats.
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Here Are The Key Takeaways:
You can show up at any Los Angeles area food pantry to get food if you need food now.
It is however best to call first to get the food pantrys hours of operation.
There is no limit to how many times you can use a food pantry.
The best way to support the Los Angeles area food bank is through a cash donation.
However, you can also drop off food, especially those on their most wanted food item list.
Additionally, there are many ways to volunteer at the Los Angeles Food Bank, including:
- Sign up for Individual Volunteering
- Volunteer at Food Pantry
- Sign up to be a Food Bank Ambassador
- Volunteer with a Group
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Food Donations By Businesses
There are plenty of ways businesses can support the food bank and help provide hunger relief.
Here are ways your business can donate to the food bank:
- Host a traditional food drive at your office
- Host a digital food drive
- Become a corporate partner
- Discover volunteer opportunities for corporate groups
Contact the food bank for more information.
How To Support The Library
You can support the Los Angeles Public Library in several ways:
- Join a Friends group. There is a Friends of the Library group for most branch libraries and departments of the Central Library. Friends groups raise money for improvements to their library through memberships, used book sales and other activities. For more information or talk to your local librarian.
- Join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for Library enhancement programs such as adult and early literacy, children and teen reading clubs, technology, and cultural programs. Foundation members receive a variety of benefits with their membership. For more information, see .
- Make a donation by check to the Los Angeles Public Library and send it to:Support the Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles CA 90071 or call 228-7272.
Don’t Miss: Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
Participate In The Best Volunteer Opportunity In Los Angeles
- Individuals, Groups , Groups , Families, Corporate Teams
- Virtual, In-person, Indoor, Outdoor, Food Distribution, Food Packing
- Weekdays, Weekends
How you help | With the help of 37,000 volunteers annually we serve more than 300,000 people on a monthly basis. |
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About us | Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. To fulfill our mission, source and acquire food and other products and distribute to needy people through charitable agencies or directly through programs energize the community to get involved and support hunger relief conduct hunger education and awareness campaigns and advocate for public policies that alleviate hunger. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distributes 60 million pounds of food and product annually through a network of over 670 charitable agencies with more than 1,050 sites |
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Why Support The Library
The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest most diverse population of any library in the United States.
Through its Central Library and 72 branches, the Los Angeles Public Library provides free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city’s diverse communities.
With more people than ever before using the librarya record 17 million last year aloneyour support helps the Library provide people with the resources they need to succeed and thrive.
Read Also: Rio Grande Valley Food Bank
Hunger In Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is home to one of the largest populations of any county in the nation.
It is also home to one of the largest accounts of hunger.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 people in Los Angeles County faces food insecurity.
While fixed-income seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families are the most visible examples of people who struggle, hunger doesnt stop there.
Hunger affects all groups of people regardless of education level, employment status, or ethnicity.
Additionally, due to the soaring costs of both housing and transportation in Los Angeles County, many people who work, including some families with two incomes often cant make ends meet or put enough good food on the table.
How Do I Register To Volunteer As An Individual

If you are a first-time volunteer, you will be asked to create a login and password when you sign up for your first shift on the food banks volunteer registration system.
Once registered and logged in, select your shift, and a confirmation email will be sent back to you.
For returning volunteers, simply log in, select a shift, and you will receive a confirmation email.
To sign up for a volunteer shift, visit the food banks Volunteer Event Listing and Registration.
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Getting The Help They Need
One of those people seeking food assistance at the East Side Riders Bike Club was Maria Cortez. As a mother of three, her husband as the sole breadwinner, and without help from any other agency, Cortez had to find a way to help her husband make ends meet as prices on essential items continue to rise. With the rising prices of food, gas, and utilities, to name a few, their family is struggling.
Food distributions like the one available at East Side Riders Bike Club help families like the Cortezs make ends meet in order to send their children to school fed and satisfied.
Rams Team Up With La Regional Food Bank To Give Holiday Meals To Families In Need
The Los Angeles Rams teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank Wednesday for a food distribution event in Watts, just in time for the holidays.
WATTS, LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams teamed up with the L.A. Regional Food Bank Wednesday for a food distribution event in Watts, just in time for the holidays.
The event was held at Ted Watkins Memorial Park where about 1,000 meals were handed to families in need.
Each family left with up to two bags full of groceries.
“It means a lot because everything is expensive right now,” said recipient Yajaira Reyes. “We go to the grocery store for stuff, it’s like $100, so this really helps a lot.”
L.A. Rams tight end Tyler Higbee attended Wednesday’s event and said this year, his participation meant a little more.
“I just recently had a daughter, seven weeks old now, so seeing some of these kids come and seeing their smiles on their faces, it means a little more now having a daughter,” he said.
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How Does The Los Angeles Food Bank Work
The Los Angeles food bank is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger-relief charities.
Most food banks act as food storage and distribution depots for smaller front-line agencies.
The Los Angeles food bank usually does not give out food directly to people struggling with hunger.
Instead, it distributes food throughout Los Angeles County through its partnering agencies and programs.
Where And How To Donate To Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank relies on support from retailers, community groups, and people like you to help them get food to those who need it.
The most efficient way to do that is through a monetary donation.
to make a monetary donation.
Also, see a list of other ways to give to the food bank.
Read Also: Local Food Banks In My Area
Inflation Makes It Hard For Low
As many can recall, the pandemic took a toll in every aspect of our lives physically, mentally and financially. Thousands of people lost their jobs, and many lost their loved ones.
While the unemployment rate in LA County has decreased since then, some families are struggling to get back on their feet. Those that lost their jobs in the start of the pandemic and are back to work are having to work more hours in order to payback their rent or loans. Many that contracted the virus may not be able to return or have lingering effects.
Although the pandemic seems to be subsiding in some communities, families like the Cortezs are what inspire Jones and the East Side Riders Bike Club to continue hosting their weekly food distributions in the Watts community.
This is already a low-income community, so the need is going to be greater, the need is going to be longer the effects of the pandemic are going to last longer than any other community, Jones said. Inflation has risen the fact that people are having to come through and needing the essentials of milk, meat. We see that the line is growing, we see people are reeling.
Trying to recover from a pandemic, now gas prices are high, food prices are high, this is a big blessing for the community, he added.
If you are in a position to do so, please consider donating to the Food Bank and supporting programs and agencies like the East Side Riders Bike Club.
Los Angeles Public Library
The Los Angeles Public Library helps connect residents who are experiencing homelessness with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living. This site will help you find work, food, housing and many other helpful services near our library branches in the City of Los Angeles. WIN is a free app and mobile website that connects anyone who is homeless or struggling to free resources and services. The Source events offer help in person.
Read Also: Second Harvest Food Bank Of Silicon Valley
The East Side Riders Bike Club In South Los Angeles Has Been Providing Food To Their Community Throughout The Pandemic
What started off as a way to help their community during the pandemic has now turned into a reliable food source for families in need.
When the pandemic first hit Los Angeles in March 2020, the East Side Riders Bike Club in South Los Angeles got to work by making pancakes in order to help families feed their children as they began distance learning. Shortly after, the organizations co-founder/president John Jones III, and his team began looking for ways to continue helping their community.
They linked up with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and shortly after, they were hosting food distributions every Wednesday, welcoming hundreds of families in need.
Icipate In The Best Volunteer Opportunity In Los Angeles

- Individuals, Groups , Groups , Families, Corporate Teams
- Virtual, In-person, Indoor, Outdoor, Food Distribution, Food Packing
- Weekdays, Weekends
How you help | With the help of 37,000 volunteers annually we serve more than 300,000 people on a monthly basis. |
---|
About us | Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. To fulfill our mission, source and acquire food and other products and distribute to needy people through charitable agencies or directly through programs energize the community to get involved and support hunger relief conduct hunger education and awareness campaigns and advocate for public policies that alleviate hunger. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distributes 60 million pounds of food and product annually through a network of over 670 charitable agencies with more than 1,050 sites |
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Also Check: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Distribution Schedule
What We Aim To Solve
Food insecurity in Los Angeles County has continued to be pervasive. Continued increases in the cost of living, including and especially housing, coupled with stagnant wages, means that hundreds of thousands of families in our communities struggle to put food on the table. One in five people in Los Angeles County experience food insecurity, representing 20% of the population and affecting more than 2 million people. One in four children in Los Angeles County is food insecure.
Los Angeles Food Bank Locations
To find a Los Angeles area food pantry or food bank, .
You can search by zip code or location, as shown below.
You can show up at any Los Angeles area food pantry to get food if you need food to feed your family immediately.
However, we advise that you first call the food pantry to get their hours of operation and food distribution schedule.
There is no limit to how many times you can use a food pantry in Los Angeles.
Read Also: Donating Food To Homeless Shelter