As Los Angeles Mission pursues our vision to be a “Mission without walls,” we’re now
delivering vital resources directly to communities in need — and you can help . . .
As the costs of food and other basic needs continue to surge, Los Angeles Mission is expanding our reach into the community with a new initiative we call Race to Feed. We’re now providing meals and supportive services directly to vulnerable children and families across LA County.
Part of this program expansion was spurred on by the pandemic — food costs have risen 31% in the last year, and many people who lost jobs did not have money for transportation to food banks, especially with sharply-increased fuel prices. At the same time, we have long been determined to break the cycle of generational poverty, and that means equipping families who have known only hardship with nutritious meals and the tools to rise up and secure their independence and stability.
Please download our flyer listing items needed for our Thanksgiving boxes.
Living Life Below the Poverty Level
Due to the soaring cost of living in Los Angeles County, people who work often can’t make ends meet. Families living at the poverty level are the most susceptible to homelessness and hunger.
$68,044
Median household income of Los Angeles County in 2019
$14,025
Median household income of Watts, Jordan Downs neighborhood
$12,984
Median household income of Watts, Nickerson Gardens neighborhood
Going Where the Need Is
Through Race to Feed, Los Angeles Mission is distributing meals and Food Boxes to:
Homeless Encampments
We provide non-perishable food boxes that include a week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches and dinners — 21 meals per person. These individuals are also invited to experience healing and hope at the Mission.
Schools
“Grab and Go” food boxes are given to food-insecure students and parents. These typically include 84 meals for a four-person household — 21 meals each.
Churches
We also partner with local churches to serve parishioners in need. As with schools, food disbursements include the equivalent of 84 meals for a four-person household — a week’s worth of food.
Foster Families
Foster children are truly the most vulnerable among us. Fully half of them who age out of the system will wind up experiencing homelessness within two years. To help stabilize their households, we provide a week’s worth of “Take and Bake”-styled meals — approximately 84 prepared meals for a four-person household.
If you would like to partner with the Los Angeles Mission to host a Race to Feed event, please click this link to complete and submit the information below.
You Can Help! Give to Provide
Life-Changing Meals and Hope
As you can imagine, meeting skyrocketing local need is no easy thing. Your support is urgently needed to provide vital meals and services for people in need across our community.
Additionally, there is a considerable need for larger gifts from those with the means to give them:
Sponsor a Food Truck Event – $10,000
Purchase a new Los Angeles Mission Food Truck – $100,000
Sponsor Meal Boxes for an Event:
Homeless Encampments – $3,750
Foster Families – $3,750
Churches – $7,500
School – $22,500
Finally, in-kind donations are also a powerful and effective way to help men, women and children experiencing hunger and homelessness. The following items are always in demand and will make a tremendous difference for the people we serve:
Perishables
Turkey Bacon
Chili Brick
Ground Turkey
Chicken pack (6 leg quarters)
Shredded Cheese
Milk
Butter
Onion
Idaho Potatoes
Green Beans – fresh
Green Bell Pepper – fresh
White & Wheat Bread – one of each
Eggs
Cinnamon Rolls
Non-Perishables
Captain Crunch – Regular
Captain Crunch – Crunch Berries
Macaroni Noodles
Oatmeal – Maple Brown Sugar
Oatmeal – Caramel Apple
Pancake Mix
Chicken Broth
Aunt Jemima Syrup
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Spaghetti Sauce
Taco Seasoning
Chili Seasoning
Taco Shells
Mixed Fruit, Apricots or Pears (canned)
Pinto Beans
Rice
Food Bags
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Crackers
Tuna packets
Vienna sausages
Salmon packets
SPAM
Instant noodles
Ravioli
Instant Macaroni and cheese
Water- Gallon
Plastic cutlery
Honey bun/Danish
Breakfast bars- Nutri Grain
Mini Vanilla Muffins
Bread
Food Truck Service (If you are a food truck vendor willing to volunteer your services for an event, please email kfullerwood@lamission.net
You can drop off your in-kind donations at:
Los Angeles Mission
316 Winston Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Monday – Saturday 7am – 7pm,
Closed Sundays
Drive-Thru Drop-Off Center
351 S. Anderson Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Monday – Friday 8am – 2pm,
Closed Saturdays & Sundays
If you have any questions about in-kind donations, please email jmason@lamission.net
or call 213-629-1227, ext. 437. Thank you!
