Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Working With Community Colleges

1. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Working With Community Colleges Hilda Ayala, LARFB, Programs Director Carlos “Tito” Altamirano, PCC, Pathways Coordinator

2. Agenda • Introduction • How the Food Bank works and how to work with them • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Pasadena City College • What else can we do?

3. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank • In 2017, the Food Bank distributed 68 million pounds of food, enough food for 56 million meals. • We worked with over 650 partner agencies, and more than 300,000 people were served on a monthly basis. • Of the 650 partner agencies, 11 were institutions of higher education

4. Why a Food Pantry? • Food Insecurity • Occurs when one experiences “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods” (Feeding America, 2014, p.2) • Estimated that 50% of all college students struggle with food insecurity • Of LACCD’s 230,000 students, 2/3 can’t afford to eat properly (LA Times, 2018) • College and University Food Bank Alliance • 2015 – 184 members • 2017 – 573 members • 2018 – 613 members

5. Pasadena City College • Lancer Pantry • Rooted in going “Beyond Financial Aid” • 80% of PCC students are on BOGG (low income) • Fall 2015: PCC Lancer Pantry Advisory Committee established • Fall 2016: Surveyed PCC students on hunger – M2C3 (Wood & Harris, 2016) • Winter 2017 - Soft Opening • Spring 2017 - Grand Opening • March 2017 - Benefits Fair

7. Pasadena City College Point Person • Carlos “Tito” Altamirano • Coordinator, PCC Pathways • Student Equity Liaison • Management Association • Association of Latino Employees • Student Success Committee • Institutional Effectiveness Committee • Veterans Advisory Committee • EOPS And CARE Advisory Committee

8. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank PointPerson • Hilda Ayala, Programs Director • Worked at the Food Bank for 17 years • Currently oversee 3 departments and 11 programs that focus on direct/indirect food distribution to children, seniors, low income households

9. How We Established Our Partnership Why did PCC choose LARFB as a partner? • What I know… • Personal experience of volunteering • Value the services provided for the City of LA PCC researched organizations, & called Food Bank for program and services. First program that was implemented at the college was: • Mobile Food Pantry • Highlight of the Benefits Fair • Food Bank saw the potential before we did • Students look forward to it and often rely on it to get them through the end of the month

10. Outreach/Training • PCC promoted the grand opening for the Lancer Pantry at their first Mobile Food Pantry distribution. Flyers were distributed to promote awareness for additional food assistance. • With the help of various departments, including the Office of Strategic Communication and Marketing, we publicize via different means: • Fliers in department offices • Fliers in campus-wide bulleting boards • Emails to all staff on campus • Facebook posts on student pages • Instagram posts via PCC • In-class nudging slides

11. Departments We Work With

13. Outcomes: Lancer Pantry • Most popular items: Canned chili, rice, cereal, Cup-O-Noodles, Ramen, granola bars, canned ravioli and spaghetti, and all canned meats • Work with the LARFB to have Ready-To-Eat meals available • Food purchased is based on needs and what we hear back from students: • Fresh fruit, yogurt, string cheese, canned tuna, etc. • The Food Bank offers PCC USDA commodities, donated, and purchased food items. Lancer Pantry has volunteers that pick up their food order directly at the Food Bank; however the Food Bank also offers a delivery option. • Staple items: Canned vegetables and fruits, noodles and soups. • 70% of what we give to students comes from the LARFBF

14. Outcomes: Mobile Food Pantry Mobile Food Pantry: • During the benefits fair, 587 students (households) were served, approx. 2,113 people. • Since then, distributions average 350 students… in TWO hours • Student response • Students are extremely grateful for the Mobile Food Pantry as they see many students doing it and feel less stigmatized • Monthly distribution • Students look forward to the monthly distribution and often ask if there will be more • Scheduled for the middle of the month as a means to help those who receive benefits at the beginning of the month CalFresh: • CalFresh Outreach Workers are available during distributions/special events in addition to Department of Social Services

15. Lessons Learned • The need for food assistance is more than the Food Bank imagined • One of the Food Bank’s top priorities is to obtain more ready-to-eat foods for the student population • Our Pantry has begun to serve two types of student needs: • Bag of food for home • Snacks for “right now”

16. Challenges • LARFB • Agency Requirements • Non-profit entity • Agreements • Logistics • Food availability (ready to eat) • Schedules • Location • PCC • Lancer Pantry • Hours of Operation • Stock continuously • Policies • Health permits • Vendor permits • Etc. • Procedures • Campus Police • Facilities • Volunteers

17. What Else Can We Do? • Resources - Beyond bags of food • Snacks • Toiletries • Clothing • Transportation • Housing • Academic • Establish more partners • Bags

18. Questions and Answers Thank you and have a nice day! • Hilda Ayala, LARFB, Programs Director • hayala@lafoodbank.org • Carlos “Tito” Altamirano, PCC, Pathways Coordinator • cxaltamirano@pasadena.edu