Food for Kids – Food Insecurity
The same students who need support with educational resources also need access to healthy, affordable meals seven days a week. Some years ago, staff from a local school approached the Volunteer Center about students who were coming to school starving on Monday morning because there wasn’t enough food to eat at home on the weekends. These children struggled to pay attention in class and to perform well on assignments. The Volunteer Center’s action in response became our Food for Kids program, which now provides 3,000 weekend meals to local families.
We live in the midst of one of the highest food insecurity zones in our state – over 90% of the youth in our service area don’t have the healthy meals they need – yet every day, Los Angeles County generates more than 4,000 tons of food waste. With Food for Kids, we’re working to close that gap as our incredible volunteer families and local businesses donate and help distribute shelf-stable food to children and families in need.
In-Kind Donations
In-kind donations given by individuals and groups in support of the Volunteer Center benefit thousands of under-resourced families and children in our community, through our Food for Kids and Operation Teddy Bear programs. We distribute food and health-related products to low-income students in collaboration with our nonprofit partners in the South Bay and Harbor areas weekly – wherever the need is greatest. In addition to hands-on food drive initiatives, we also accept major donations and hands-on volunteer drives from businesses to amplify the care provided and create a meaningful experience for contributing teams.
What We Need Most:
- Breakfast items (cereal, granola bars)
- Shelf-stable fruit (canned fruit, raisins)
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Meal components (pasta, canned vegetables, canned meat)
- Travel-sized toothpaste
- Youth-sized toothbrushes
- New, unwrapped toys
- Puzzles, and games for youth
