As SNAP and CalFresh beneficiaries Wednesday continued to desperately hope for the resumption of food benefits amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a nonprofit Wednesday turned itself into a food pantry while a Los Angeles woman used her Little Free Library to give away free food.
The YMCA in Boyle Heights Wednesday distributed food as dozens of people filled the parking lot to receive the extra support they needed.
“Everything is expensive – rent, mortgages, the bills, car payments,” Eric Lopez, a YMCA member, said. “It’s not enough with the income that I’m making. This helps me big time.”
The Y said food distribution is open to even those who are not official SNAP or CalFresh recipients.
“I don’t have no stamp, I don’t have no pension, I don’t have anything. For me, it’s a blessing,” Guadalupe Benitez said as she picked up fresh vegetables.
The YMCA, which expanded its food pantry program to 28 of its centers in LA County, said it plans to host distribution events every week.
“We recognize that it’s not just people that are in need. It’s your regular families. Middle Class families. They are also looking at how they’re going to feed their family because groceries have gone up,” said Brenda Hernandez, executive director of the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA.
State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez said his office fought to secure $7.5 million to the YMCA Los Angeles to make sure food distribution programs are supported during times of need.
See here for the YMCA’s food distribution events and times.
Meanwhile, a private citizen said her effort would serve families in need as she turned her Little Free Library in Sunland into a small free pantry.
Mary Soracco, the woman behind the Little Free Food Pantry, has publicly shared her home address on social media because she wants SNAP recipients to stop by and pick up free food at 10527 Langmuir Ave. in Sunland.
Inside the small wooden box that used to be filled with books is now being replenished with canned goods, dry pasta, fresh fruit and snacks.
“The only thing that we can do is to have communities come together and give this kind of mutual aid because we cannot count on our governments to do it,” said Soracco.
Soracco said while she hasn’t talked to anyone benefitting from the food yet, she said she noticed food was taken, which has been her goal all along.
“I hope I have to fill it many more times. Well, actually, no. I don’t hope I have to fill it many more times. But I hope that people know it’s here, that they can come and fill their bellies,” Sorraco explained.
The Sunland woman said she plans to keep restocking this Little Free Library for as long as the federal shutdown continues.
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Source: NBC Los Angeles
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