It is a privilege to be reaching out to you today as the Valley Food Bank director. While we navigated one of the most unpredictable and challenging years in our history I am so humbled to be surrounded by such a diverse and passionate organization. One with such a rich legacy of serving our community in need.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health of our loved ones, the businesses and jobs we relied upon, and the way we live our daily lives. Hundreds of our neighbors faced new needs, like hunger, for the very first time in addition to the many that already relied on the food bank as part of their lives before the COVID-19 crisis. As we continue to navigate through the evolving challenges, we want all our neighbors to know that the Valley Food Bank is here for you!

I have served in this capacity for more than 16 years, and have been embedded behind the scenes helping guide the strategies to keep our ministry running. To date, we have collected and distributed pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in unprecedented numbers. We have also implemented some unconventional strategies to ensure access to meals can continue in our neediest communities. This included pop-up pantries, delivery to seniors, and getting food resources to newly formed non-profits to help get them stocked to do business. We became a hub for USDA and Farmers to Families distribution of goods.

We developed and executed a seamless transition from a farmer’s market-style of pantry distributions to a no-contact, preselected food resources box into a trunk. To accommodate all the city regulations and safety of our volunteers, this method was implemented once the shutdown was announced. We are both grateful for and inspired by the untiring commitment so many volunteers demonstrated as well as our food bank staff. And we couldn’t have done any of it without our incredible network of supporters and friends and heroes like you.

Your continued partnership is needed now more than ever as we innovate with new solutions where existing ones no longer fit. We are in this together, making life better for folks that may still be struggling. I am excited to collaborate with community leaders, elected officials, civic organizations, places of worship and our supporters to launch new and exciting endeavors in 2021.

I also look forward to activating your new ideas to move our organization forward. Please send me a note, email or make a visit. Most of all, I cannot wait for all we will accomplish together for our neighbors who need us, now and beyond these present uncertainties.

Written by the Noho Arts District

We are happy to share the successes of our local North Hollywood folks and would like to give a big round of applause to NoHo’s own health and fitness expert and personal trainer and adventure travel tour operator Jack Witt. Every year Jack does a volunteer project to help an aspect of our North Hollywood community. This year he’s done a food donation drive for the Valley Food Bank. During these unprecedented and scary times, we need to make sure our safety nets are secure but open our hearts to those in need. While dropping off his food donations, Jack  had a chat with their director, William Hernandez.

How long have you been with Valley Food Bank?

I joined the team in March 2004 (16 years).

What keeps you motivated? What drives you?

Each and every day we receive feedback from struggling families how the food resources and other essentials have made a difference to them and their family.

How have things changed at Valley Food Bank since the pandemic started?

Great question. Without any notice or time to prepare we shifted gears to acquire as much food as we could distribute. Then we needed to convert to a farmers market style of distribution to comply with social distancing and minimal to no contact distribution. We served 10,000 additional families last month. Lots of food! And we’re happy that support has continued to make this happen.

What type of community and civic partners do you typically team up with?

Anyone and everyone that wants to help. Elected officials have been great as well as The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and several Rotary Clubs and foundations.

What’s the best way people can help?

With the limitation of 10 volunteers per day to maintain social distancing and a safe environment for volunteers, the best way to help is donation of food and hygiene supplies and/or cash.

When things get back to normal, what’s ahead for Valley Food Bank?

I believe with have established a new level of support for struggling families and will work hard to maintain sufficient resources to continue our campaign – Fighting Hunger – Feeding Hope.

If you’d like to make a donation to Valley Food Bank please click this link: https://valleyfoodbank.org/donate/  And here’s the volunteer link: https://valleyfoodbank.org/volunteer-sign-up/