Westside Food Bank: Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Westside Food Bank is a warehouse that provides food to around 60 different social service agencies throughout the western LA County, including Santa Monica. They are the sole provider for the Santa Monica College (SMC) Bodega program.
The GIVING THANKS(giving) event that took place on SMC’s main campus received a portion of their donations from Westside Food Bank. They are a wholesale operation, so food is delivered to them by truckload. They receive donated food from farms around California and food drives. They then distribute that food, mostly through their network of partner agencies. (Programs like SMC Bodega and UCLA’s Food Closet.)
Westside Food Bank has a direct service through their Mobile Food Pantry program, which occurs five times a week. They bring a truck into local communities, serve food to people, and provide free groceries. One is operated in Santa Monica at Virginia Avenue Park every Thursday morning from 10-11 a.m. Westside Food Bank’s website, WFSB.org, provides more information on volunteering.
When speaking with Genevive Riutort, the President and CEO of Westside Food Bank, she expanded on how people can help give back to the community, the specifics of Thanksgiving food, and their partner agencies.
Regarding giving back to the community, Riutort said, “The best place to get information is from our website. There's places you can click on to volunteer… We list out opportunities there, so anyone who wants to help with boxing food and getting it ready for distribution at those local food pantries. We usually do those on Friday mornings and Tuesday afternoons.”
Riutort mentioned that on Nov. 22, Westside had a Thanksgiving giveaway food drive. It was from 3-5 p.m., and it had a resource fair. Riutort said, “There was a raffle for 150 turkeys as well as several Thanksgiving foods. There were also resources for people to learn how to sign up for different programs, like CalFresh and other programs that are available for low-income people.”
When it comes to Westside Food Bank’s partnering agencies, Riutort said, “Many of our partner agencies have other programs besides food. They’re supporting, y’know, a women and girls coding program, helping veterans stay housed, and case management for people that are trying to get off the streets and get into housing. Our food is really the support system for 60 other agencies and all of their programs because we provide them food free of charge, and then they provide it to their clients free of charge.”
Right now, food insecurity is the highest it’s ever been, especially in key neighborhoods including Santa Monica, Culver City, Inglewood, and Venice. Three in 10 Los Angeles residents are food-insecure, and that’s almost double what the rate was during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s affecting people from all walks of life: students, seniors, and working people who don’t make enough to pay their rent.
“I think we really try to reduce the stigma and shame because especially COVID really shined a light on how many people from all walks of life, people who work, people who work more than one full-time job, often still need help, and there’s no shame in asking for it,” Riutort said. “We try to make it very easy. So at any of our pantries, there's no need for identification, you just show up and wait in line like everyone else.”
When it comes to the food being provided, Riutort said, “I think another thing that makes Westside Food Bank stand out is that we focus very much on nutrition. In fact, over 67% of the food that we give out is really high in nutritional value. It’s fresh in produce, fruits, vegetables, eggs, chicken, staples like rice and beans. We have people who tell us that our pantries are the only way they get fresh produce.”
The emphasis WestSide Food Bank has on providing fresh, nutritious food shows their dedication to addressing hunger, while also promoting health and wellness. Having access to high protein foods rich in nutrients ensures everyone has access to meals that nourish your body and mind.