We are pleased to announcethat Grace Resources has been recognized as the January 2026 Agency of the Month. Our ongoing partnership has been exceptional, and we wholeheartedly commend their dedication and service to the people of Antelope Valley.
Best Practices Highlight
Providing excellent customer service is essential to build trust and foster meaningful relationships with your neighbors. A best practice is to greet neighbors with a warm, friendly greeting and take time to learn about the individuals and families who come seeking support. Use the “CPR” culture when serving neighbors—Compassion, Patience, and Respect—so neighbors feel welcomed, valued, and without judgment.
Nutrition Services
What is Food Waste? Food waste is any edible food that gets thrown out instead of being eaten. It can add up fast, even in food pantries where every item counts. Reducing waste helps stretch donations, keeps shelves stocked, and ensures families get the nutritious food they need.
With simple tips and a little guidance, we can help customers make the most of what they take home and save money along the way. Share this tip sheet with your customers to learn how to make the most of commonly wasted foods.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank would like to thank all our Extra Helpings partner agencies for their consistent and meaningful work in supporting our neighbors across Los Angeles County with rescued food! Thanks to the collective efforts of our 543 donor partners and 161 agency partners, we rescued over 32 millionpounds of food in 2025. Your success is made possible by dedicated volunteers and partners who recognize the vital importance of this work. As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to continue strengthening existing partnerships, creating new ones, and welcoming additional agencies into the Extra Helpings program. If you are interested in learning more about the Extra Helpings program, please reach out to us at extrahelpings@lafoodbank.org
Neighborhood Intake Program
The Neighbor Intake Program is helping agencies across the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Network upgrade their reporting with an easy, fully digital sign-in system. In just two years, the program has expanded countywide, and it now supports 52 agencies with more joining every month. Agencies that participate not only get a faster, smoother check-in process but also receive the equipment they need to get started, including tablets or laptops at no cost. The program is optional, but agencies find that going digital saves valuable time on distribution days and makes the entire process easier for all. Feel free to send an email to neighborintake@lafoodbank.org for more information.
Information for TEFAP Agencies
Reminder - 2026 Civil Rights Training Renewal
It is time to renew the TEFAP Civil Rights Training for 2026! The TEFAP Civil Rights Training will be due by March 31, 2026. All Agencies participating in the TEFAP program must submit the Civil Rights Training Documents directly to tefapcivilrights@lafoodbank.org by the deadline.
Are you in need of a Sign-In Sheet or an Alternative Pick-Up form in a language other than English? Please visit the LARFB website to view all translated forms available now!
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 do you have new team members who would benefit from learning about online ordering, agency shopping, monthly reporting, or food distribution policies? Please invite all your staff and long-standing volunteers to attend the next virtual Food Bank 101 training!
Refresher for Online Ordering and Monthly Reporting - Emergency Pantry and TEFAP Pantry Agencies
This refresher training is designed to review 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.
Extra Helpings Compliance Huddle (Extra Helpings Program Participants Only)
The EH online meeting is an excellent opportunity for participants to come together and share their thoughts and ideas on various topics. These include best practices, the basics of MealConnect entries, and open discussions about any questions you may have regarding the program. Online meetings will be held on the fourth Friday of each month. We look forward to seeing you!
We're having a training session on compliance for the Neighbor Intake Program. We'll go over the important rules that need to be followed to keep everything running smoothly. Whether you're new to the program or simply need a quick refresher, this compliance training will provide you with valuable guidance. Online meetings will be held on the following Tuesdays.
Diaper Pantry Program Compliance Session (Diaper Participating Agencies Only)
Does your agency participate in the Diaper Program? We are conducting a 30-minute training session on the third Thursday of each month. This will enable us to address some frequently asked questions and offer you guidance on how to effectively run a successful diaper giveaway distribution, including monthly reporting.
Save The Date - 34th Annual All Agencies Conference
All Agencies In-Person Conference August 24 and 25
This year, the conference will be held at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Distribution Center in the City of Industry. The event will include a general session and breakout sessions. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Stay tuned for more updates and to RSVP.
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