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.