Before the pandemic, one in five Los Angeles County residents didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Now, one in five LA County residents may be unsure where their next meal is coming from.
When the pandemic hit, the question of whether Patricia and her family of five would have food on their table began to linger. She and her husband had lost their jobs, and with three young children at home, she needed to find a way to find their next meal.
Patricia found the help she needed just around the corner through the Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), one of the 700 partners of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. There, she found out about food distributions that would help keep her kids fed, and help alleviate a huge financial strain from her and her husband.
“The food distribution has benefited us because we have food in the house, which is the most important thing,” Patricia said. “When the pandemic started, we were concerned about what we would eat, and thanks to God and to those who donate, there is a place where we don’t run out of food.”
Despite LA County beginning to get back to a new normal after more than a year, Patricia and her family have not fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic. She and her husband are back at work but do not count with the same amount of working hours, meaning a smaller paycheck, and having to make sacrifices here and there in order to make ends meet.
“What we save from what they give us here goes to rent, which is our greatest concern, also so we aren’t left out on the streets,” she said.
Every time Patricia returns home from CCNP and her children see that she’s brought home a cart full of food, she sees joy in their faces, a feeling of comfort for her. From fruits and vegetables to the spaghetti she receives, Patricia is able to keep her family nourished and happy, and it’s all thanks to CCNP and those that donate to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
“Thanks to those that donate, we have something to eat at home,” Patricia said. “Our children are not starving to death. And thank you to the donors because you are helping not only me but this whole community. So, thank you!”
The Food Bank relies on the generosity of the community, so if you are in a position to donate, please do. Your donation will help families like Patricia’s who are struggling during these tough times.