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L.A. Regional Food Bank gets donation from Starbucks

WAVE NEWSPAPERS — Los Angeles’ homelessness epidemic isn’t the only issue plaguing several low-income communities. The county is full of “food deserts” leaving many residents — children, adults and seniors alike — to face the realities of hunger. Helping fight the issue is local nonprofit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which has worked to alleviate hunger in the region since 1973 with more than 1 billion meals distributed. And, with the help of a $100,000 donation from Starbucks, the food bank can do even more with its mobile food pantry.

Published

7 years ago

September 17, 2019

Oakland Post

L.A. Regional Food Bank (Photo by: wavenewspapers.com)

By Bria Overs

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Los Angeles’ homelessness epidemic isn’t the only issue plaguing several low-income communities.

The county is full of “food deserts” leaving many residents — children, adults and seniors alike — to face the realities of hunger.

Helping fight the issue is local nonprofit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which has worked to alleviate hunger in the region since 1973 with more than 1 billion meals distributed. And, with the help of a $100,000 donation from Starbucks, the food bank can do even more with its mobile food pantry.

“We are proud to partner with Starbucks and Feeding America to ensure that people who struggle with hunger have access to wholesome meals,” said Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “This grant exemplifies what we can accomplish when we work together.”

According to the California Food Policy Advocates, 1.4 million adults and 573,000 million children who live in low-income households in Los Angeles are affected by “food insecurity,” living with limited or inconsistent access to quality food.

The Food Bank’s mobile food pantry works with the 2 million people affected in the county and allows them to get the food they otherwise would not have access to. The truck visits12 different locations that do not have a food bank or pantry and distribute fresh produce, bread, grains, dairy and more.

A dollar can contribute four meals to someone in need, according to the Food Bank. The organization uses the help of donors, volunteers and advocates to make their vision of “no one going hungry in Los Angeles County” come true.

In 2018, the Mobile Food Pantry distributed more than 1.4 million pounds of food, including more than 450,000 pounds of fresh produce.

Starbucks’ donation will provide about 400,000 meals to those utilizing the Mobile Food Pantry. In the time the Food Bank has worked with Starbucks through the Starbucks Foodshare Program, more than 600,000 meals have been given to those in need and is estimated to provide 5,894,775 million pounds of food.

This summer, the coffee franchise has donated about $1.5 million to 17 food banks across the country to support mobile food pantry programs.

“Starbucks is committed to doing our part to alleviate hunger in the U.S.,” Jane Maly, Starbucks’ social impact manager, said. “Our grant to the L.A. Regional Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry Program is an expansion on our existing partnership to donate our surplus food, helping them to provide access to give kids the nourishment they need to learn and succeed.”

“We are grateful for Starbucks, one of our strong supporters in the fight against hunger,” Roger Castle, L.A. Food Bank’s chief development officer, said. “The funds provided for the Mobile Food Pantry will make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

As with most nonprofits, volunteers are an important part of the equation.

Volunteers help by boxing, sorting and gleaning food that is later distributed through the bank’s network of more than 600 agency partners.

All volunteers are asked to register online, where they are asked to fill out a liability release. Volunteers must be at least 14 and those between 14 and 18 must have the liability release signed by a parent or legal guardian.

“Volunteering at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is one of the best volunteer opportunities in L.A., the agency’s website says. “By donating a few hours of your time, you’ll help us provide food for the 2 million people in Los Angeles County who face food insecurity.”

For more information on volunteering, contact Ana Martinez at (323) 234-3030, ext. 144

INFORMATION BOX

Organization: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Leader: Michael Flood, President and CEO

Website: lafoodbank.org

Social Media: @lafoodbank

This article originally appeared in the Wave Newspapers.

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.