The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with government agencies, nonprofit and faith-based partners and others to respond to the fires throughout Los Angeles County.
The current situation is:
As government officials have reinforced with their public remarks, the first priority is keeping residents safe, getting people to evacuate from areas close to the fires, and providing the fire departments with the resources to battle the multiple fires. For more information, go to
Thank you for all of the work that you have done to respond to this emergency. The Food Bank will continue to reach out to our network of more than 600 partner agencies to assess their needs, and if they are in an evacuation area, if they continue to operate.
Agencies In Need Of Additional Assistance in Fire Affected Areas
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is here to assist our partners and the LA communities in need. If your organization is in the fire danger zone, your need additional items or assistance, or have a change to your scheduled distribution, please reach out to a member of the Agency Relations Team at Agency-Relations@lafoodbank.org
Fire Response - Volunteer Assistance Available
At the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, we are committed to assisting agencies like yours that may be affected by the fires. Our volunteer team is available to assist you with your volunteer recruitment needs as you navigate this difficult situation. Whether you need volunteer support for your food distributions, resources to support those in need, or any other assistance, we are here for you.
We encourage you to reach out to our volunteer team for information and support tailored to your specific volunteer needs. You can contact them directly at ebeltran@lafoodbank.org or by calling (323) 234-3030 Ext. 156. To request contact from the Volunteer team you may also fill out the following form: Request for Volunteers Form
Thank you for the work you do in our community, especially during times of crisis. Together, we can ensure that those affected by the fires receive the help they need.
We are excited to kick off the new year with announcing Shepherd’s Pantry as Agency of the Month for January 2025! Their service to the community for over 20 years does not go unnoticed. We look forward to our continued partnership.
Update for TEFAP Agencies
2025 Civil Rights Requirement
It is time to renew the TEFAP Civil Rights Training for 2025! The TEFAP Civil Rights Training will be due by March 31, 2025. All Agencies participating in the TEFAP program must submit the Civil Rights Training Documents for 2025 by the deadline to tefapcivilrights@lafoodbank.org.
We will continue to host “TEFAP Civil Rights Training” sessions throughout the year to review the Civil Rights requirements for providers and their staff administering TEFAP food programs. Below are the dates and times for the sessions, please click on the meeting link to join.
It is time to renew the TEFAP Agreements with the LA Regional Food Bank for 2025! All TEFAP participating agencies are being asked to resubmit the 2025 TEFAP agreement, even if they may have submitted one previously. The 2025 TEFAP agreements will be due by January 31, 2025.
All Agencies participating in the TEFAP program must complete the new TEFAP Agreement for all sites. Each location should have their own agreement with the following information:
The distribution address and contact information on the first page
Distributing days and hours on the signature page
Ensure that the highest ranking official such as the CEO, Executive Director, Pastor, or Colonel signs the TEFAP agreement under the Sub-Distributing Agency signature.
The 2025 TEFAP agreements are due by January 31, 2025. Agencies that do not submit the agreement by the due date will be placed on hold until the agreement is received.
We want to help keep you informed and prepared. Please take advantage of important resources available to all partners of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The Los Angeles County Emergency Notifications System offers timely updates and alerts about emergencies that could affect our community, helping you and your team respond effectively.
Another useful resource is Watch Duty, which provides real-time information about emergency incidents in Los Angeles County. This platform gathers updates on fires, public safety issues, and other critical events happening near you.
To stay updated, you can visit the LA County Emergency Notifications to sign up for real-time alerts, and check out Watch Duty for more information on current incidents. By using these resources, we can work together to ensure the safety of our communities and the individuals we serve.
As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a strong and compliant network, we kindly remind all partner agencies to ensure they are in good standing with the following agencies:
Please take a moment to verify your organization's compliance using the public links provided. Staying in good standing is essential to continue partnering with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at agency-relations@lafoodbank.org or Adee at Aperez@lafoodbank.org
Best Practices Highlight
- Safety, Slips, and Spills
Prevention
Operating a food pantry can have you running around quite a bit, especially when you're focused on serving the community effectively. With all the activity, it's essential to stay mindful of safety practices to prevent slips and spills and be disaster-ready at your food pantry. It’s important to establish a best practice for developing a plan of action with your staff and volunteers, as the most common occurrences involve slips and spills. Regular training sessions on safety guidelines and encouraging staff and volunteers to report hazards can help. Below are a few safety tips to prevent slips.
Wear comfortable clothing and close-toed shoes when working in the food pantry and storage areas. It is not uncommon for cans of food to be dropped or to fall off the shelves, so proper shoes are essential to protect your toes.
Be aware of your environment when assisting neighbors who are unfamiliar with the environment of your pantry. It is good to be aware that floors may be uneven or have trip hazards present. Watch your step, and notify the appropriate personnel of uneven places or hazards when assisting with neighbors moving through the property.
Lifting and moving items carefully is also very important. Lifting and moving items can present an opportunity for spills if items are not handled properly. Be sure to bend your knees, keep your back straight, lift with your legs, hold the load close to your body, avoid twisting, lift slowly, and only lift what you can comfortably manage.
Topics such as lifting safely have already been reviewed in previous issues of our newsletter and we look forward to providing additional best practices through 2025.
Warehouse Vehicle Entrances for Pick Ups
LA1 - Vernon Location
Agencies serviced at the 41st Street Location should enter the Food Bank at 1727 41st Place, Los Angeles CA 90058. This is the back side of the Food Bank location as our front entrance is being used for volunteer parking lot and receiving docks only. Please see the map below.
LA5 - City of Industry Location
Agencies serviced at the City of Industry Location should enter the Food Bank property through the North East Entrance. This is the second entrance to the Food Bank if coming from the 605 exit. Please do not enter using the Volunteer entrance on the North West side of the building. Please see the map below.
Nutrition Services
Creating well-balanced meals that include all five food groups is a great way to make healthy eating a goal this new year. Watch this video on how to make stuffed bell peppers. The recipe is a great way to incorporate veggies, protein, whole grain and dairy all in one meal. Just make sure you add fruit throughout the day.
Make healthy eating fun and delicious! Think vibrant veggies, energizing smoothies, and guilt-free treats. It’s all about balance, not restriction—let’s enjoy food that fuels us and feels good. Start simple with these helpful tips from www.myplate.gov
Click on the link below to view policy updates from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s policy team on recent state and federal anti-hunger legislation and programs.
ID Cards and Insulated Blankets Required for Pick Up
All agency representatives picking up orders and/or shopping must present an agency identification card and insulated blanket to the Food Bank Personnel. There is a $5.00 fee for replacement cards. The charge will be added to your agency’s account.
Heavy Equipment Operators Cannot Be Interrupted
Do not attempt to converse with or interrupt an equipment operator, such as fork lift or pallet jack operators.
Please see below a list of additional warehouse policies that must be adhered to while conducting business at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Civil Rights Training is mandatory training for all staff of volunteers at TEFAP Sites who interact with participants. The Food Bank Agency Relations Team offers this training monthly.
Do you need a refresher course or have new team members who would benefit from learning about online ordering, agency shopping, monthly reporting, or food distribution policies? Please ask all your staff or long-standing volunteers to attend the next virtual Food Bank 101 training!
Refresher for Online Ordering and Monthly Reporting
This refresher training reviews the fundamentals of monthly reporting and online ordering. If you need assistance with your reports, you are welcome to join us in this session to ask any questions you may need answered regarding your reports.
