HISTORY:
Westside Food Bank was founded in 1981 to meet the need for a more efficient food collection and distribution system for social service agencies in Western Los Angeles County.
MISSION:
Their mission is to end hunger in communities by providing access to free nutritious food through food acquisition and distribution and by engaging the community and advocating for a strong food assistance network.
We currently provide close to 5 million pounds of food each year to over 70 agencies.
NEEDS:
The need for food assistance in Los Angeles County remains at an all time high.
Many people simply cannot afford to meet all of their basic needs.
We are dealing with a new normal where people must rely on our member food pantries as regular source for meeting their families nutrition needs.
Two thirds of community college students in Los Angeles are food insecure and one in five is homeless.
One in 5 CSU students are food insecure as are 4 in 10 at UC schools.
Over 24% of children and 12% of seniors in Los Angeles County live in poverty and are at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
With a stuff of only eight employees, we distribute nearly 5 million pounds a year to more than 65 agencies with social service programs in our service area.
Every additional donated dollar allows us to provide food for 4 nutritious meals.
Community giving is the strongest source of our support and it's the best way to help us immediately increase our distribution.
Westwood Food Banks 28th Annual 5K Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, October 21st, 2018. from 12 noon to 3pm.
Participation is free and includes entertainment, an awards ceremony, a family fun zone with games and activities, raffle prizes, and an awards ceremony.
Join Kari Steele this Sunday, October 14th as she talks to Genevieve Riutort about the Westside Food Bank and how you can help!