July 28, Update

HoFoCo has been on the frontlines of Los Angeles’ wildfire relief efforts, responding to the Eaton Canyon and Palisades wildfires through two core initiatives: Mobile Pantries and Healthy Living Grocery Bags distributions. These programs were designed to meet displaced families, domestic workers, and vulnerable residents where they are – offering culturally relevant food and choice-based support with no barriers to access. In the last two months alone, HoFoCo has hosted 16 Mobile Pantries in Altadena, in close partnership with My Tribe Rise, Altadena Farmers Market, The Juicy Little Society, and Altadena Library, and 4 Healthy Living Grocery Bag distributions with Polo’s Pantry and IDEPSCA, specifically serving domestic workers impacted by the Malibu and Palisades fires. These initiatives are ongoing and will continue through next year.

To date, our efforts have reached over 5,000 families – many of whom are facing food insecurity for the first time, while simultaneously dealing with the trauma of displacement and loss. A Spanish-speaking senior in Altadena shared, “The whole experience was very traumatic.” Meanwhile, R., another fire survivor now living in Pasadena, explained, “Anything is helpful, anything at all. The produce helps because there’s not many stores nearby or even a good selection of produce in open stores, and prices are too high.”

These initiatives are powered by HoFoCo’s Community Exchange, which rescues and redistributes over 2.5 million pounds of food annually. This food rescue program ensures a steady supply of farm-fresh produce, pantry staples, and prepared meals. Our longtime partner Sunrise Organic Farms plays an essential role by sourcing and donating high-quality, locally grown organic produce and supporting transportation to get it directly into the hands of those most in need. This partnership ensures that fresh, nutritious offerings – like sweet cherries, collard greens, and heirloom tomatoes – are always available.

The Mobile Pantries are intentionally designed to function like open-air markets, preserving dignity and reducing waste by allowing people to select only what they need. “I was not expecting all this! This is spectacular – so many fruits!” shared one attendee. Another added, “No grocery shopping for a while!” M., who drove in from Monrovia to attend one of the distributions and water poppies on her old lot, told us, “Everything will help our family. All the fruits and vegetables will help.”

For those who are homebound or lack transportation, Healthy Living Grocery Bags offer an alternative – pre-packed and filled with items selected for quality, cultural relevance, and nutrition. We are especially mindful of accessibility: A., a hard-of-hearing resident who recently moved back home, shared, “We probably need produce more now than ever before… every little penny and dime we can save is helpful.” He also emphasized the importance of offering both in-person and remote access options for those with disabilities or tech barriers.

One retired teacher, G., whose home was severely damaged, remarked, “All the produce is so fresh! A lot of other distributions don’t have veggies or fruits, and this is a blessing – anything we can save right now is needed for rebuilding our house.” Another participant pointed out, “These cherries are great – they’re so expensive at a store.”

This relief work has been made possible thanks to the unwavering support of our generous funding partners: Ballmer Group, Fire Aid LA, California Community Foundation, Albertsons, State Farm, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, UniHealth Foundation, Rosendin Foundation, Rose Hills Foundation, Johnson Ohana Foundation, Robert Nelson Foundation, and all of you. Your commitment is allowing us to not only meet immediate needs, but to build a more coordinated and resilient emergency food infrastructure, one that prioritizes equity, dignity, and long-term recovery for all Angelenos.

As the fires fade from the headlines, the need remains, and will for years to come. Together, we are showing what’s possible when neighbors, nonprofits, and funders come together to create a community-rooted, sustainable response.

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April 29, Update

In the wake of the fires, we launched Resilient Restaurants, Nourished Neighbors, an initiative designed to support both food-insecure community members and the recovery of local food businesses. Through this effort, Fair Oaks Burgers – a long-standing Altadena restaurant severely affected by the disaster – has been able to continue preparing and distributing nourishing meals to community members, including students and families served by STARS. This model not only restores a vital source of sustenance for residents but also sustains local jobs and preserves community identity through food.

Building on this foundation, we are preparing to launch two new food access initiatives at the end of April: Mobile Pantries and Healthy Living Grocery Bags. These initiatives will deliver fresh produce and shelf-stable ingredients directly into neighborhoods on a recurring basis – monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly – in partnership with organizations like My Tribe Rise and service providers such as AltadMed. As larger emergency response organizations begin phasing out their services, we are committed to bridging the gap by maintaining consistent, community-rooted food distribution efforts for as long as needed.

February 4 Update

In January, in addition to processing an incredible 290,000 lbs of food and distributing over 260,000 lbs to over 80 community organizations, the Community Exchange also received and distributed thousands of wellness and hygiene items. These essential supplies reached organizations supporting communities impacted by the Eaton fires. Just last week, our team was on-site, delivering hundreds of wellness kits assembled by our wonderful volunteers, toiletries, and other critical supplies to: 

• Stars, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Pasadena-area youth through mentorship and educational programs.
• Pasadena Community Job Center/National Day Laborer Organizing Network, an organization connecting the public with skilled day laborers for a variety of services, and dedicated to supporting their families.
• Altadena Communal Kitchen, a pop-up mutual aid supplies distribution center
• Neighbors & Friends, a small coffee shop featuring locally sourced products from BIPOC and nonbinary artisans serving as a mutual aid pantry   

Please note: in addition to credit card payments, you can also complete ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and Donor Advised Funds (DAF) payments through this form. (Our free donor software asks for a tip. You can choose to tip any amount, including zero. It’s your choice!)

January 24 Update

Since the fires began, our Community Exchange has processed an incredible 184,000 pounds of food to support those in need.

Of this, 9,000 pounds went directly to our nightly Community Dinner program, while 145,000 pounds were distributed to:

• 57 regular nonprofit partners in our network

• 23 fire relief organizations, including:
  • Feed the Streets: Providing support to first responders and evacuees in Altadena
  • Stories: Organizing drives for evacuees
  • Valley of Change: Doing outreach and food distribution in the Valley, especially during evacuations
  • Pasadena Labor Center: Supporting domestic workers and cleanup efforts in the Eaton fire area
  • Chef Attila at Temple Israel: Preparing meals for firefighters
  • Cielo: Distributing to Indigenous communities in the Eaton fire area
  • BLVD Market: Serving first responders and firefighters in Altadena
  • Polo’s Pantry: Supporting domestic workers with food distributions in the Eaton fire area
  • Project Pop Drop: Doing general outreach and community response to fires
  • World Central Kitchen: Providing ingredients to chefs cooking meals for WCK sites
  • BLM: Doing community outreach in Altadena

We also provided support to individual outreach efforts in North Hollywood and Altadena.

VOLUNTEER WITH US ASSEMBLING WELLNESS KITS FOR FIRE RELIEF

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Since the fires began, our Community Exchange program has been serving as an emergency distribution hub and providing critical support to impacted organizations across Los Angeles, in addition to supplying our nightly Community Dinner.

Thanks to the efficiency of our teams and volunteers, and the generosity of our business and community partners, we’ve distributed thousands of waters, masks, prepared meals, and other essential items to over 70 organizations and counting.

We plan to continue this work in the coming weeks and months, and are raising funds to support the distribution of food and supplies to affected communities, including our own. Your generosity has been extraordinary, and we are profoundly thankful for the support you have all shown.

Please note: in addition to credit card payments, you can also complete ACH, PayPal, Venmo, and Donor Advised Funds (DAF) payments through this form. (Our free donor software asks for a tip. You can choose to tip any amount, including zero. It’s your choice!)

We have ramped up our food distributions in the short term to support emergency responders and evacuation shelters, as we continue our long term work to support people experiencing homelessness, who are at special risk due to poor, and potentially toxic, air quality. We aim to keep our relief efforts sustainable over time, and are planning for the next phase of our relief efforts. 

We recognize the unique challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness during disasters like the recent wildfires. In Los Angeles, approximately 70% of our unhoused neighbors live outside, while only 30% are in shelters. With more than 12,000 homes, businesses, schools, and houses of worship destroyed, the disaster has placed additional strain on an already overwhelmed housing system.

Unfortunately, disaster response systems frequently fail to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Recommendations like “stay indoors” or “keep your phone charged for updates” overlook the challenges faced by individuals without stable shelter. As a result, unhoused individuals are disproportionately vulnerable to the environmental and logistical difficulties that disasters bring.

At HoFoCo, we are committed to tackling this complex crisis by providing direct assistance to unhoused individuals while fighting for the policy changes needed to address root causes of homelessness. In times like these, our work remains focused on ensuring that everyone has access to food, resources, and a caring community.

Thank you for your continued support. Please save this page for ongoing updates.

FROM EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SUSTAINED RELIEF AND STABILITY – HOFOCO’S WORK THROUGH THE YEARS 

When the (Greater West) Hollywood Food Coalition began in 1987, it was a grassroots response to the rising homelessness crisis in the local community. Since then, Hollywood Food Coalition has remained steadfast in responding to ongoing need and times of crisis. 

In 2020, during the global pandemic, we launched our Community Exchange program to address the growing demand for food and resources among our community partners. Over time, we developed and expanded our systems and infrastructure to be adaptable during emergencies. Today, the Exchange serves as a vital and indispensable food hub, providing immediate crisis response and sustained support to organizations that regularly serve food-insecure Angelenos. We have become a trusted community partner, known for our ability to adapt and respond flexibly to emerging needs. In times of crisis, we collaborate with our partners and take immediate action until government support arrives. 

In just the first week of the fires, the Community Exchange received nearly 100,000 pounds of food and thousands of essential supplies. From this, 80,000 pounds were distributed to 48 of our current partners and 22 new fire relief response organizations and community groups. 

The Community Exchange is further cementing itself as a backbone of the food infrastructure in Los Angeles and as an essential piece of emergency response. We are grateful for your continued support allowing us to increase our impact. 

Below are our current needs for food and supplies. Please deliver everything to our Community Exchange located at 1223 Vine St. (Entrance from La Mirada), Los Angeles, CA 90038. We are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Please see instructions below for larger donations.