Los Angeles, March 14, 2025 – The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is continuing to expand its service to the South Bay area of Los Angeles County with the addition of a new building in Long Beach. At the request of the California Department of Social Services, the Foodbank of Southern California has transferred ownership of the facility located at 5580 Cherry Avenue in Long Beach to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank on March 11, 2025. This building transfer ensures that critical food resources continue to reach individuals and families seeking food and nutrition assistance.

The new Cherry Avenue distribution hub will be operational in late March and will replace the temporary distribution site at the parking lot of the Scottish Rite Temple in Long Beach, which the Food Bank has been utilizing since late October. The addition of this facility enhances the Food Bank’s capacity to serve the South Bay more efficiently, reducing travel distances for partner agencies and optimizing food distribution in the region.

Meeting Increased Demand for Food Assistance

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has seen a 33% increase in food distribution in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This increase is due to the addition of new partner agencies in the South Bay, sustained high demand for food assistance, and ongoing support to communities affected by the Greater Los Angeles wildfires.

• The Food Bank has onboarded more than 100 new partner agencies, which collectively operate 190 food distribution sites primarily in the South Bay.
• The Long Beach Distribution Hub at the Cherry Avenue building will improve service to the South Bay by providing a more permanent and efficient location for partner agency pickups.
• The Cherry Avenue facility, like the South Los Angeles and City of Industry facilities, are large warehouse environments and are not designed for people seeking food assistance directly.
• If you or someone you know is facing food or nutrition insecurity, find a nearby food distribution by visiting LAFoodBank.org/find-food. 

How the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Works

For over 50 years, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been a trusted leader in the fight against hunger, partnering with hundreds of agencies across Los Angeles County to provide food assistance to communities throughout Los Angeles County. The Food Bank now operates from three locations:

• South Los Angeles
• City of Industry
• Long Beach 

These locations allow the Food Bank to distribute food more efficiently through Food Bank programs, direct distributions organized by the Food Bank, and working with partner agencies such as food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

Supplementary Information: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal initiative that provides nutritious food to people seeking food assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases high-quality food and distributes it to food banks across the country, which then work with local agencies to distribute the food to individuals and families in need.  The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been a TEFAP partner since the 1980s, ensuring that USDA commodities are distributed efficiently throughout Los Angeles County, supplementing the donated food that the Food Bank receives from private sources such as farmers, retailers and food manufacturers, and other government and purchased food programs.

Following the California Department of Social Services’ decision to terminate its TEFAP agreement with the Foodbank of Southern California (FBSC) on September 26, 2024, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has taken steps to transition TEFAP sites previously served by FBSC to maintain uninterrupted service. Since October 2024, the Food Bank has continued expanding TEFAP distributions to ensure food resources reach those in need.

For further inquiries regarding TEFAP or the decision regarding FBSC, please contact Scott Murray, Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Outreach for the California Department of Social Services, at Scott.Murray@dss.ca.gov or 916-657-2268.

About the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been mobilizing resources to fight hunger in Los Angeles County for more than 50 years. To support the Food Bank’s vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, food and grocery products are distributed through a network of partner agencies and other Food Bank programs. The Food Bank also energizes the community to get involved and support hunger relief, especially through volunteerism, and conducts nutrition education campaigns, and advocates for public policies that benefit people served and improve nutrition security. The Food Bank is rated at the highest level by Candid and Charity Navigator, and 96% of all revenue goes to programs. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org.