This year, we are filled with gratitude to be in a community---really a whole universe---with people sharing their lives while reaching those in need with nutritious food. Yes, Hunger Action LA provides food and other resources but through our work we and those we serve receive also that vital energy that some call “love” and that many note “makes the world go round”!

Hunger Action LA defends this policy called the “safety net” that has been a shining light in our country for nearly a hundred years, growing and improving to meet people’s needs as we discover more about nutrition, the environment, and what makes a sound economy.

And it’s yet another thing called “justice” that gets us closer to the goal of a world where everyone looks after each other and makes sure we have all that each other needs.

It’s too bad that human governments can be controlled by people who don’t have that same vision. But hope is not lost! We have a community of strongly engaged volunteers, of people who need a hand and can provide a voice, of dedicated staff, all interacting and cultivating that wisdom, community and spirit that bring us together to fight for food justice. And many other faces of justice as well.

Please be a part of the Hunger Action LA universe! Send some resources our way and get involved whether with the food delivery program, the Blind Low vision program, or our ongoing advocacy work, so we can achieve that vision of justice sooner!

-Frank Tamborello

Advocacy:

Advocacy provides a platform for individuals with lived experiences to share their stories with policymakers and the public about hunger and the existing solutions that need to be protected. After the election, we have dozens of new state legislators and Congress members who need to be educated about how SNAP, Social Security, and other vital programs are not just bureaucracies but a true source of real help for real people!

Advocacy also targets fundamental issues such as poverty and systemic racism. Advocacy challenges myths surrounding government nutrition programs, promoting the greater use of food assistance programs like Market Match, the Blind and Low Vision Food Program, and Hunger Action LA’s newly born Fishing Program.

At HALA, our grassroots team aims to ensure that all Californians have fair access to food resources. We confront the obstacles that impede progress and support marginalized populations.

ANTI-HUNGER EDUCATION AND ORGANIZING:

In partnership with the California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC), HALA is actively working to protect the anti-poverty safety net and to end hunger through advocacy at the state level.
A significant focus of this effort is the Farm Bill, which sets the nation’s path on nutrition programs like CalFresh, WIC and school meals for several years.

Direct Service:

CalFresh ENROLLMENT:

HALA staff assist in enrolling low-income individuals and families in CalFresh, also known as SNAP (formerly food stamps).
HALA staff are committed to reaching underserved populations, including immigrant communities, the unhoused, and those recently released from incarceration

Food Delivery:

HALA is providing weekly assistance to over 200 households with surplus produce that would otherwise be thrown away, addressing environmental concerns together with hunger and reaching newly housed people, blind and low vision persons, and families who cannot benefit from government programs.

Market Match:

HALA provides bonus dollars at 40 farmers markets in LA County to customers using CalFresh at the market, helping over 100 family farmers as well as 10,000 low-income residents a year!

Giving Tuesday 2024: Let's trump hunger before it is too late.

By HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES

Giving Tuesday 2024: Let's trump hunger before it is too late.