The First New Christian Fellowship food pantry, in partnership with the Food Bank, is bringing hope to the South LA Community

To millions of individuals across Los Angeles County, attending a food distribution is a lifeline. From individuals with single incomes, to families with multiple incomes, to seniors on fixed incomes, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has seen individuals from all walks of life in need of food assistance, many having to sacrifice other essential items in order to put food on the table. 

The First New Christian Fellowship Church in South Los Angeles is one of the more than 600 partner agencies with the Food Bank that distribute food every week. Through these food and product distributions, individuals and families are not just receiving food, but hope for a better tomorrow.

Fostering Hope for the Future

Foster parent Laura Lacy wishes she could take in as many foster children as possible. However, recent inflation rates on grocery items, rent, and utilities have kept her from expanding her family. She turns to the food distribution at First New Christian Fellowship to help save money to pay the rent and other items for the three young girls she has living at home.

The food she receives is welcomed by her budget and her girls, who love to make vegetables fun, as well as indulge in the snacks that are distributed.

The Impact of a Food Pantry

With all items on the rise, there are some people that are looking for an easy way out. Committing debit or credit card fraud, for instance. Unfortunately, actions like these sometimes hurt an innocent family’s well-being. 

After receiving the Middle-Class Tax Refund debit card, Elme Garcia was excited to go to the grocery store to buy what his family of five needed. He loaded his cart with water, milk, and eggs, among other items, then headed to the checkout. Little did he know that cyber thieves had depleted all the money that was deposited. Garcia left the grocery store empty-handed.

For the last three months from the time of our interview, Garcia attended the food distribution at First New Christian Fellowship every Thursday as a way to help his family’s grocery budget. As the only person employed in his household, he knows and feels the impact of attending these food distributions.

“If we didn’t need the help, we wouldn’t be here,” Garcia said. “But it’s something that helps us.”