West Side Food Bank A Non-Profit Corporation

PROVIDES PURCHASED AND DONATED FOOD TO LOCAL CHARITIES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THOSE IN NEED.

DURING THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2020 THROUGH JUNE 30,2021, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED 4,387,912 POUNDS OF FREE NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO LOCAL FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS NUTRITION POLICY, MORE THAN HALF THE FOOD WAS FRESH PRODUCE, CLOSE TO A THIRD WAS HIGH PROTEIN FOODS, AND FOODS HIGH IN SUGAR OR SALT WERE LIMITED TO LESS THAN 2%. THE FOOD WAS DISPENCED VIA MORE THAN 65 FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS - FOOD PANTRIES SERVING INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN, DISTRIBUTIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, SENIOR CITIZEN MEAL AND GROCERY DELIVERY PROGRAMS, HOT MEALS AT PRE-SCHOOL/AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, BRIDGE HOUSING FACILITIES, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SPACES, COMMUNITY KITCHENS, RECOVERY CENTERS, AND GROUP HOMES, AS WELL AS ACCESS CENTERS FOR UN-HOUSED YOUTH, ADULTS, AND VETERANS-LOCATED IN SANTA MONICA, VENICE, CULVER CITY, WEST LOS ANGELES, MALIBU, WEST HOLLYWOOD, INGLEWOOD, AND THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX) AREA. ABOUT 90% OF FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH FOOD PANTRIES, WITH THE REMAINING 10% BEING PROVIDED THROUGH SHELTERS, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, COMMUNITY KITCHENS, AND VIA SCHOOL-RELATED AND VETERANS' PROGRAMS. BEYOND THESE MYRIAD COMMUNITY ACCESS POINTS, WSFB ALSO OPERATES SEVERAL DIRECT SERVICE POP-UP PANTRIES THAT PROVIDE FRESH GROCERIES TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN CULVER CITY, WEST LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA AND VIA THE VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION CAMPUS IN WESTWOOD. DURING THE COVID PERIOD, WSFB SAW THE NEED FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE IN ITS SERVICE AREA MORE THAN DOUBLE AND IS NOW DISTRIBUTING MORE THAN TWICE AS MUCH FOOD COMPARED WITH PRE-PANDEMIC FIGURES. IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING ITS DIRECT SERVICE POP-UP PANTRY PROGRAM, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK ADDED SEVERAL NEW MEMBER AGENCIES INCLUDING MANY THAT DID NOT HAVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS PRIOR TO COVID. MANY OF WSFB'S MEMBER AGENCIES OFFER ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, CHILDCARE, COUNSELING, REFERRALS, RECOVERY PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS PARENTING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT CLASSES TO HELP CLIENTS BECOME MORE ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT.

IN OCTOBER 2020, WESTSIDE FOOD BANK HELD "HUNGER WALK", A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM EVENT THERE WAS A WALK-A-THON THAT PROMOTED THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO END HUNGER. ADDITIONALLY, THIS EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY NONPROFITS IN A COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORT TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUPPORTING SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH EXHIBITS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION.