COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
The San Gabriel Valley Family Center (SGVFC) serves extremely low-income neighborhoods in the cities of El Monte and South El Monte. Sadly, more than 1 in 6 families are at risk of going hungry. Families and seniors are forced to buy poor quality food, lack the ability to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and find themselves forced to skip meals to make food last. Many families within the community lack adequate financial resources to meet their most basic needs. It has been found that the elderly and those without vehicles are the most affected.
To address the high levels of food insecurity in the region, the SGVFC has partnered with several organizations enabling it to operate two Community Food Pantries. The primary source of food products for the Pantries is the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Staff at the SGVFC pick up food weekly and store the food at its storage facilities to await distribution days. Along with food products the LA Food bank provides 5,000 disposable diapers in sizes 1-6 each month. They also provided 10,000 disposable masks for distribution at the beginning of the covid pandemic.
The SGVFC takes pride in providing a variety of quality food products to the community through our partnerships with Vons, Pavilions and Target. Staff secures fresh food from the Vons store in the City of Walnut and from Pavilions in the City of Arcadia. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and baked items are donated on a weekly basis. Target also provides food products weekly, increasing the number and variety of fresh products the SGVFC is able to provide to the community. In addition to food products, Target donates other items such as car seats, strollers, clothing, health and beauty aids. These items are made available for distribution to families in need at the Food Pantries
In recognition that pets are essential to the mental health of our seniors SGVGC has partnered with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) to secure pet food. Each month ASPCA provides 400 17-pound bags of pet food for distribution at our pantry. We receive 200 bags of cat food and 200 bags of dog food. Prior to the Covid pandemic ASPCA also provided free spaying, neutering and vaccination services. Pet food is distributed on Thursdays only.
The SGVFC Community Food Pantries are staffed with volunteers who have also been food recipients. This perspective has provided them with the ability to understand the value of food assistance. To insure a safe and sanitary distribution system all volunteers wear plastic gloves and masks. Food items are placed on tables and participant points to the item they would like. The volunteers then add the item chosen to the participant’s box. The boxes the food products come in are cut to size by the volunteers and are provided to the participants to carry their food supplies. This approach is referred to as the Client Choice system. The Client Choice system has been used by SGVFC for many years, distinguishing the SGVFC Community Food Pantries from many other food pantries.
SGVFC Community Food Pantry Locations and hours:
Community Presbyterian Faith Tabernacle Church
Church of El Monte 2144 Tyler Avenue
4602 N. Peck Road, South El Monte, CA 91733
El Monte, CA 91732 Friday 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Thursday 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Partners
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
ASPCA
