Members of the Wilshire Rotary are at the Christmas Tree lot on North Larchmont Blvd. ,today collecting staple food items to help our local food pantries. Volunteers are there today until 2 pm and will be back tomorrow (Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. gathering donations and sorting food items into boxes that will be delivered to St. James Food Pantry.
“The response has been pretty good,” Wilshire Rotary President Ron Reyes told us this morning. He said several Buzz readers were there with donations, so thank you to our readers! Reyes also said several people who live in the apartments on N. Larchmont were posting signs to help spread the word. A small donation from each of us goes a long way to helping people who are suddenly without food during this pandemic.
“Our efforts support the local pantry at St. James that gives food once a week to needy families and individuals distributing on average about 900 bags per month, serving a monthly total of about 1700,” Rotarian Janice Prior told the Buzz earlier this week.
There is an unprecedented demand for food, especially staples like pasta, rice and cereal since the pandemic hit Los Angeles. Locally food pantries are seeing a two-fold increase in the number of people who need food.
St. James Food Pantry distributes food in grocery bags and quick bags. Quick bags are for those without a place to cook or prepare a meal. Items are needed for both. Most requested items are listed below, but they can use all items in the attached list as well.
Groceries:
● canned protein such as tuna, sardines
● soups and stews
● peanut butter & jelly
● canned fruits & vegetables
● fruit juices
● staples such as beans, rice, pasta, cereal
Quick Bags:
● pouches of tuna
● crackers and cookies
● snack packs
● mini-cereals
● pop-top single serve meal (ravioli/ mac n cheese)
● cup of noodles/ soup
Rotary Volunteers will be at the lot today until 2 p.m. and again Sunday, May 2-3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and next Friday and Saturday, May 8 -9 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
