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When wildfires hit Los Angeles, they don’t just destroy landscapes—they tear apart communities. Restaurants, often the heart of our neighborhoods, are some of the hardest hit. These aren’t just places where we grab a meal; they’re where we celebrate milestones, share laughs, and make memories with those we love. That’s why I’m proud to announce the Los Angeles Fires Assistance Fund through One Bite Foodie. This initiative is close to my heart because it’s not just about rebuilding restaurants—it’s about restoring the spirit of our city’s food culture and helping the people behind it get back on their feet. With 90% of donations going directly to impacted restaurants and workers, this fund ensures your support goes where it’s needed most. And for the food service workers and restaurant owners who need assistance, we’ve made it simple to apply through our platform. We’ve also added a “Donate” button to One Bite Foodie profiles, making it easier than ever to mobilize your network. Share stories, inspire action, and let’s rally together to rebuild LA’s vibrant dining community. As foodies, we know the power of connection. Let’s use that power to make a difference. 💡 Learn More and Donate: https://lnkd.in/gvX6K8SR 📖 Read the Press Release: Ignite Business Insider Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can rebuild, one bite at a time. #OneBiteFoodie #LAFiresAssistanceFund #SupportLocalRestaurants #FoodiesUnite

Interesting article by NW Asian Weekly that highlights White Center Food Bank (where Noah volunteers weekly) as well as Food Lifeline (where I work). We're seeing an increase in demand for food and services coupled with a decrease in donations. Food is a basic need and a human right - consider how you can get involved in your local food pantry or food bank. Can you become a monthly donor? Can you host a food drive for culturally-desired foods? Can you get your company involved as a sponsor or match giving? Can you get a group of friends to volunteer together? There are so many ways we can support our local communities - and it starts with ensuring folks have what they need to survive, let alone thrive. https://lnkd.in/edbsVFC8

This Thanksgiving, Support Families in Need Beyond the Classroom 🦃🍎 Food insecurity affects families in every community, impacting students who rely on school meals as a consistent source of nutrition. During holidays like Thanksgiving, many families face additional challenges in accessing nutritious meals. Feeding America’s guide on donating Thanksgiving food provides actionable steps to make a difference—whether through donating healthy pantry items, volunteering, or supporting local hunger relief efforts. Every contribution helps ensure families have a warm and nourishing meal during the holiday season. Supporting families during school breaks is vital to building stronger, healthier communities. Learn more about how to help: https://lnkd.in/gFmrcWKf #SchoolMeals #EndHunger #Thanksgiving #CommunitySupport

As we come into the end of the year, a lot of people are making end of the year donations. One of the most challenging parts of that comes for organizations that deal with addressing hunger; primarily because people are, in general, unfamiliar with the difference and the relationship between food banks and food shelves. I thought this might be helpful to clarify as you are making decisions about where to send that check or online donation this year. In simple terms, food banks take in food and resources, generally on a large scale, and make them available to food shelves in local communities. Through their network they can provide food out across a state. They do not, however, distribute food to the public, that's where local foods shelves come in, making food available to people in their community. Here in Minnesota we have two great food banks that I've had the pleasure of working with, The Food Group and Second Harvest Heartland, during my fifteen years when I led Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. Both are excellent resources for local food shelves. However, this brings us to one of the larger myths about food shelves and food banks: food shelves get the food they distribute free from food banks. With the exception of some rare occasions, food shelves (at least in Minnesota) have to purchase the food they receive from a food bank. However, it should be noted that food banks provide that food at reduced cost, and also coordinate "food rescue" programs which connects local stores to food shelves to donate the food that they are planning to discard but is still good quality. Why is any of this important? Because I've run across a fair number of people over the years who have donated to their local food bank believing they are helping to provide food free to the local food shelf, or that by donating to their local food shelf, they are supporting the food bank. In actuality, donating to one has very little direct affect on the other. And the confusion means that your donation may not be doing what you want it to. So when people ask for advice on where to give, I ask them if they want to have a broad or a deep impact. If you want to have a broad impact, donate to your local food bank; they are who corporations donate to when they have a large amount of food or funds they wish to contribute. Food banks will ensure that those funds help keep the cost of the food low for all food shelves and that food is distributed across as much of the state as possible. But if you want to have a deep impact, donate to your local food shelf. Be it PRISM, Golden Valley MN, Keystone Community Services, MERRICK COMMUNITY SERVICES, Neighborhood House, Valley Outreach or any of the other local food shelves, who will use that donation to purchase more food to ensure a greater number of people in your local community are served. No matter which you choose, your donation will make a difference in the lives of the people in need in your community. #donate #hunger

Support My 37km Ride for London’s Foodbank, Soup Kitchens and Helplines Hey Linkedin, On Monday 24th December 2024 , I will be taking on a challenging 37km ride to the four corners of London in support of an incredible cause that directly impacts our community: local foodbanks, soup kitchens, and the 24-hour helpline that helps those in desperate need. Why This Cause Matters: Rising Demand for Support: With more families facing financial hardship than ever before, foodbanks are seeing an increase in demand. The cold winter months especially highlight the need for warm meals and support for vulnerable individuals, many of whom struggle to make ends meet. Soup Kitchens Provide a Lifeline: Every day, soup kitchens across London serve hot, nutritious meals to people who have nowhere else to turn. These meals provide not just nourishment but also a sense of dignity and community. 24-Hour Helpline:  The helpline is a vital service that offers support to people in crisis, ensuring that no one feels alone. Whether someone needs food, shelter, or emotional support, the helpline is there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Why I Need Your Support: By supporting my ride, you’ll help fund these essential services that make a real difference in people's lives. Every donation, no matter the amount, will go directly towards helping the foodbanks maintain their operations, keeping the soup kitchens running, and ensuring the helpline is always available for those in need. How You Can Help: Donate: Any contribution, large or small, will make a tangible difference. It could be the cost of a hot meal for someone, a week’s worth of groceries for a family in need, or providing critical support to someone reaching out in crisis. Share:  Help spread the word by sharing my JustGiving page with your network. The more people who know about this cause, the greater the impact we can have together. Follow the Ride: I’ll be sharing updates throughout the day of my 37km ride, so you can track my progress and see the difference you’re making in real time. Together, We Can Make a Difference. Thank you for considering supporting this important cause. Your generosity will help bring hope and practical support to individuals and families across London who are facing difficult times. Let’s make this ride count. Together, we can help ensure that no one has to go hungry or feel alone. Donate today and help make a change. https://lnkd.in/evC_zG7Q

National Food Bank Day is observed on the first Friday of September. This year, it falls on September 6, 2024. It's a day dedicated to raising awareness about food insecurity and the vital role food banks play in supporting individuals and families in need. Hoover Ingredients is a supporter of our local food banks, and we would like to encourage everyone to contribute to the cause by donating food, funds, or volunteering their time. National Food Bank Day is a great opportunity to make a difference in your community. Here are a few ways you can get involved: Donate Food Check your pantry: Donate non-perishable food items like canned goods, pasta, rice, and peanut butter. Organize a food drive: Gather friends, family, or coworkers to collect food donations. Shop for food: Purchase items on your local food bank's most-needed list. Volunteer Your Time Help sort and pack food: Many food banks rely on volunteers to help distribute food. Assist with food drives: Volunteer to help collect and distribute food during food drives. Help with other tasks: Some food banks may need help with administrative tasks or outreach. Donate Money Make a financial contribution: Monetary donations can be used to purchase food, pay for transportation, or support other essential services. Start a fundraiser: Organize a fundraiser, such as a bake sale or a raffle, to raise money for your local food bank. Raise Awareness Share information: Spread the word about National Food Bank Day and the importance of food banks on social media. Educate others: Talk to your friends, family, and coworkers about food insecurity and the ways they can help.

First Resource Center Announces New Relief Partnerships BY LISA TANG FOR THE PALESTINE HERALD, Jan 29, 2025 First Resource Center (FRC) is joining two nonprofit agencies to provide relief to qualifying families in Anderson County; the Midwest Food Bank and Get Cap. As a food agency partner of the Midwest Food Bank (MFB) of Texas, FRC will receive up to nine pallets of food each month, including meats, fish and hygiene items, which they will pick up near Fort Worth in their own truck. . “The cost to us is the gas money to run back and forth, which to us is pretty amazing,” said Kurt Sohn, FRC’s chairman of the board. FRC is also partnering with Get Cap, a nonprofit that offers financial relief to some rural residents in the form of assistance with rent or utilities. Get Cap is holding interviews at FRC from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 19, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 20. Clients can call 936-720-7474 to schedule an interview. FRC also invites visitors to an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22, to allow the community to see the organization’s breadth of operations. Each MFB delivery is worth thousands of dollars, and will supplement FRC’s current programs that serve more than 330 local families each month. Current programs include monthly food deliveries from the East Texas Food Bank in Tyler that average $6,000 per month and bread and produce purchased through FRC’s Feeding the 2,000 program (averaging $1,500 per month). Feeding the 2,000 is sponsored by seven local churches that donate funds so FRC can purchase fresh groceries from Willam George & Co. and Walmart, which they also distribute to clients. The free items from MFB may partially relieve FRC’s financial burden, which has risen sharply in recent years. In 2024, food expenses totaled $90,500, which includes $64,642 purchased from ETFB and $25,800 from William George and Walmart. as compared to $69,000 in 2023. FRC operates on a low budget with an all-volunteer staff, who provided roughly 8,000 of service hours in 2024. Sohn said the food pantry’s needs have grown significantly over the past 10 years due to inflation and an increasing number of clients. “From 2014 to 2024, we’ve given out $6.5 million of store-purchased food to the community,” Sohn said. “We’re giving out way more food than we used to.” FRC has plans to build a new permanent location along Gillespie Road but recently relocated to 2130 Country Club Road on the campus of Grace Methodist Church in late 2024. For information call 903-731-9270.

Let's all work together to help others - check out this list of how to help.

“I consider this business a place of community, resilience and support” says Bé Ù chef-owner Uyên Lê in the LA Times article written by Stephanie Breijo. Read it here https://lnkd.in/eAnJMiSB. What if we all took the time to use our gifts and resources, like the incredible chefs and small businesses featured in the article, and took action to help? The wildfires in Los Angeles are heartbreaking. Lives have been lost, families displaced, and homes destroyed. These disasters are becoming more frequent, fueled by the climate crisis, reminding us how deeply we need one another. Let’s move forward with acts of kindness like those showcased in the article. Donate to a nonprofit or someone providing relief on the ground. Donate as well to phenomenal nonprofits that are addressing the climate crisis. These moments show us the power of showing up for each other. Together, we can make a real difference.   #LosAngeles #WildfireRelief #CommunitySupport #WorldCentralKitchen #ClimateAction #KindnessMatters #SmallBusinesses #Resilience #DisasterRelief #TogetherWeCan #ClimateCrisis #NonProfits

As we welcome November and the holiday season, it’s a time of year for gratitude and a reminder of the power of giving back. Food banks across our communities are working hard to help families put together holiday meals, but they’re often short on critical items that can make a real difference. If you’re considering donating, here’s a list of high-need items shared by food bank volunteers: 1. Boxed milk, oil, and real butter/margarine for meal prep basics. 2. Canned foods with pop tops (or include a can opener!) to make meals accessible. 3. Essentials like spices, salt, and pepper to flavor holiday dishes. 4. Treasured items: sandwich bread, eggs, and fresh produce. 5. Cake mix and frosting to help make a child’s birthday a little brighter. 6. Dishwashing detergent is often expensive and is a blessing to families. 7. Tea bags and coffee brighten everyone's day. Looking to help out? Use these resources to find a food bank near you: 1. FeedingAmerica.org for a national network of food banks. 2. FoodPantries.org for a directory of food pantries, soup kitchens, and food banks. 3. FindHelp.org for food and other assistance programs based on location. This season, let’s work together to support those in need. Small donations can mean a lot to families looking to create special holiday moments. #EOATechnologies #GivingBack #FoodBankSupport #HolidaySeason #CommunityMatters #MissionFirst