What a busy year! The Valley Food Bank was able to provide food to a great number of people in need. This has been possible thanks to all the people and organizations who generously donated food, provided needed financial support, and who gave their time and skills in food preparation and other volunteering, as well as the partnering pantries that distributed the food directly to those who needed it.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of you. In the previous 12 months, we processed 2,526,565 pounds of perishable food, 1,010,284 canned goods and 1,162,553 dry and packaged food items. This enabled us to provide food resources to 42,727 families representing 156,022 individuals. With social awareness of our activities growing little by little, and with the volume of food donations from corporations increasing, the time has come for us to expand our pantry network. We will be searching for appropriate partners as we complete some much-awaited renovations.

After having acquired a new 24-foot International refrigerated truck to augment our fleet, we are planning the replacement of our warehouse refrigerator and freezer units thereby doubling our capacity. This year, we also plan to enhance the pantry network, which began last year, and both increase the number of agencies we serve and improve our relations with the ones we serve already. Working to raise social interest in food banking is another important effort for us. The problem of hunger cannot be easily solved, but we believe that a great force for change will come from raising the consciousness of many people through our activities.

Food banking is an alternative to dumping food products that are still safe for human consumption. Stores, food manufacturers, and importers all face conflicts of having food that must be disposed of because it cannot be sold. Food banking helps these companies save money along with making a positive impact on the community.

Last year was filled with challenges and many victories. We are looking forward to embracing the New Year with renewed energy and focus as we continue “Fighting Hunger – Feeding Hope.”

Meet Hormos, Mahmood, Waly and Aileen. They have been coming to the food pantry for a year now. I believe it was Hormos who spotted us at the same place every month. He stopped by and from then on became a regular recipient of goods from Valley Food Bank. Next came Waly, just a few months after, then Mahmood, and then Aileen.

Now the group gets together monthly, making the trip to The House’s distribution of food and friendship. They are all very grateful for the generosity of the Valley Food Bank and their donors, who enable The House to meet some of the needs of the community here in Reseda. We cater to a variety of people and cultures and we are very thankful to God that events like these facilitate outreach and break down barriers in the community.

Submitted by Pastor Manny Iglesia, Associate Pastor – The House, A Church Family.

Irene first met us last year at New Hope Church’s annual neighborhood block party. At the time, Irene’s father—the family’s primary income earner—had just passed away. Because Irene’s mother and brother are both sick, neither is able to work to provide for their family. After her father passed away, Irene also had to quit her job in order to take care of her mother full time.

At the holiday party, Irene learned about New Hope Church’s monthly food pantry. In order to provide for her mother, brother, and children, Irene began visiting the food pantry at the beginning of the year in order to receive supplemental groceries. The food—especially the fresh vegetables—have been an enormous help to her, and each month she is able to ration out what she receives at the pantry to help cook her family nutritious meals.

Irene is thankful for the food she receives from the Valley Food Bank and its donors. The generosity of the food banks is helping to keep her family fed each month as they adjust to this new season of their lives.

Submitted by Jason Wong, Coordinator – New Hope Pantry Ministry.

Since their founding nearly 90 years ago, Farmers Insurance has valued working with purpose and creating a meaningful impact. They have a commitment to serve the communities where their customers, agents, and employees live, work, and play.

As Farmers strives to maintain a high standard of corporate citizenship, they dedicate time and resources to three important areas: disaster resilience, education, and civic engagement. During the past month, various groups from a variety of departments have volunteered their time at the Food Bank helping to glean fresh fruits and vegetables as well as check thousands of donated cans and dry goods for quality. These hard working, dedicated individuals bring meaning to their program – Farmers Cares.

John C. Tyler, co-founder of Farmers Insurance said: “The measure of our worth is not what we have done for ourselves, but what we have done for others.”