The consecutive grant will help Food Bank address food insecurity among communities of color throughout LA County

LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2023 — The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank received an additional $100,000 from Starbucks in support of the equitable food access grant to continue to help increase access to nutritious food among households with individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color residing in communities experiencing high food insecurity rates in LA County. In 2021, Starbucks provided an initial $100,000 investment in support of the food bank’s efforts. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank will use this grant to build on the work it completed during the first year and will continue to engage local communities to better understand the barriers to accessing food and support new or expand existing interventions that can help overcome these obstacles.

“The continued financial support is invaluable as many families and individuals throughout Los Angeles County grapple with food insecurity,” said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “Food equity is essential, and we will keep working to help people in all communities access the nutritious food they need.”

The LA Regional Food Bank and Food Bank partner agencies work hard to distribute highly nutritious food and other items to people throughout LA County. In areas of high need or food deserts, the Food Bank provides a Mobile Food Pantry which delivers healthy food to people who might otherwise not have access to these items.

The Food Bank also helps overcome food access barriers through programs like  CalFresh Outreach, which helps low-income, food-insecure individuals and families gain access to nutritious food through the California Department of Social Services CalFresh Program by helping them navigate every step of the application process. The Food Bank addresses child food insecurity through Child Nutrition Programs such as the After School Meals, BackPack Program, and Free Summer Meals Programs.

“Starbucks believes it is our role and responsibility to help support thriving, resilient and sustainable communities. In partnership with Feeding America, we are tackling hunger with a focus on equity,” said Michael Kobori, vice president of social impact and chief sustainability officer at Starbucks. “The equitable food access grants are a unique opportunity to increase access to nutritious food for people that need it most.”

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America® network, is one of 16 food banks to receive this second grant from Starbucks. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank was identified based on the location of a Starbucks Community Store which is committed to serving under-resourced and historically under-resourced communities and creating spaces that aim to help uplift communities in locally relevant ways. Since 2016, Starbucks has helped to provide more than 50 million meals* to people facing hunger through its FoodShare program in partnership with Feeding America.

*According to the USDA, 1.2 pounds is equivalent to one meal.