On March 17 and 18, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank teamed up with several other organizations to provide healthy food to hospitality workers at the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles. Volunteers distributed food to individuals who have recently become unemployed or underemployed due to Coronavirus closures such as sky chefs, Dodger Stadium employees, and other members of the tourism industry.
The Food Bank sent our Mobile Food Pantry for both days and distributed several shelf-stable items as well as whole chickens, apples and oranges. Nearly 1,600 individuals were served during the distribution, and roughly 70,000 pounds of food was distributed.
The hospitality industry is one that has been turned upside down in the recent social distancing shutdowns. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Miguel Contreras Foundation and UNITE HERE Local 11 partnered together to provide the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry and other resources for UNITE HERE hospitality workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
During this time of uncertainty and struggle for many in Los Angeles County, we are working closely with our agency partners to provide food in a safe way to a growing population of those in need. We are already experiencing an increased demand for food assistance and expect the demand to continue to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
The Mobile Food Pantry will continue to make additional distributions throughout the community, including a distribution near the Los Angeles International Airport on March 20 for union employees affected by Coronavirus cuts.