The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, with the help of hundreds of partner agencies across LA County, reaches hundreds of thousands of people each week, demonstrating the community’s need. Thanks to these partnerships, the Food Bank can maximize its reach and provide food and other essential resources.
The partner agency network includes food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, religious organizations, secular hunger relief agencies and other community centers.
Among the list of partner agencies is the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown. Their food pantry services include fresh produce, shelf-stable items, diapers, menstrual hygiene products, and ready-to-eat meals for the unhoused population.
As early as 3 a.m., individuals start lining up for the food distribution at Immanuel Presbyterian. The great quality of the food items keeps people like Chong returning to this food pantry.
Chong is a senior who attends this food distribution and another one nearby weekly to help feed herself and her family of four. Although she is retired, her husband is not due to the high living cost in our County.
“My husband, he’s supposed to be retired, but he continues to work,” Chong said. “Because we live in Los Angeles, rent is so high, so he cannot retire, he has to work to support the family. I’m retired, so I’m doing something for my family, and the Food Bank helps.”