New $500K grant for emergency food assistance in L.A. County

This week, L.A. Care announced $500,000 in emergency food assistance grants to 10 community organizations, supporting families struggling to access groceries due to CalFresh disruptions and federal shutdowns from last year.

The 10 community organizations that were selected to support their local communities with food insecurity are:

•    Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club

•    MEND – Meet Each Need With Dignity

•    God’s Pantry

•    El Centro De Ayuda

•    St. Joseph Center

•    University Muslim Medical Association (UMMA Health)

•    Kingdom Causes Bellflower

•    The Children’s Clinic (TCC Family Health)

•    Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services (Sycamores)

•    Project Angel Food

L.A. Care approved the Food Assistance Emergency Grants in October 2025 to address the effects of the government shutdown, which interrupted SNAP benefits, known locally as CalFresh, for approximately 1.5 million people in Los Angeles County. Community organizations say the disruption to CalFresh benefits created immediate and long-term concern among many residents.

“When CalFresh benefits were paused during last year’s government shutdown, we saw firsthand how much providing direct support means to the people we serve when several clients cried and hugged their delivery drivers upon receiving the grocery gift cards,” said Michele Sprecht. “This funding will allow us to reach even more people with the same life-changing support as they face funding cuts and new eligibility requirements that create ongoing uncertainty.”

“Access to nutritious food is essential to health, yet too many families in our communities face moments when that access becomes uncertain,” said Melanie Fontes Rainer, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at L.A. Care. “By partnering with trusted community organizations that know their neighborhoods best, we can truly ensure families experiencing hardship have continued access to the food they need to stay healthy and stable.”

The St. Joseph Center is another organization that said that the funding is helping them meet urgent and day-to-day needs. They also noted that the food pantry has become an essential resource for residents facing increased food costs and ongoing financial uncertainty.

“St. Joseph Center has become an extended family to me,” said Sherrie Ward, a military veteran who receives support through the pantry. “When I’m there, I don’t feel ashamed to get help. They’ve never made me feel low.”