Long Beach Community Food Pantry grateful for donations as need rises
By Toni Miles
The Long Beach Community Food Pantry is located at 21801 Johnson Drive in Long Beach, and is open for food distribution on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
The season of giving is year-round for the Long Beach Food Pantry, but, with the prior government shutdown and concerns by some locals in the area about being able to put food on the table, the need for food and donations has gone up.
“We have seen an increased number of people this year compared to any other year that we’ve been out here,” said Pat Donald, associate director of the Long Beach Community Food Pantry. “Donations are still coming in. We’re still sending it out the door. We need it, we’ll take it.”
The City of Long Beach held a food drive November 10-14 at City Hall to help out. Tables were packed with donations residents and others dropped off for the food drive.
The City of Long Beach held a food drive for the Long Beach Community Food Pantry November 10-14. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
“We are truly overwhelmed by the amount of donations,” says Long Beach Community Affairs Director Courtney Cuevas-Welch. “Our community really stepped up to the plate, and we are forever grateful for everyone who contributed. We received a wide variety of items from cereal, rice and beans to canned vegetables and pantry staples. All donations will be dropped off at the Long Beach Food Pantry just in time for the holiday season.”
Those with the pantry say they couldn’t agree more, offering praises for all who have stepped up and helped out.
“We’ve had food drives from Northwood Church and a lot of individuals who have come in to donate food,” said Donald. “This is the time of year when people give, and that’s great. We really need it. We’re sending it out the door as it comes in. We want people to know that what they’re bringing in here is going out the door to the families.”
“We just received a good shipment from Extra Table. They just donated 150 whole chickens to us,” Donald said, just before the Thanksgiving holiday.
A volunteer packs donated food at the food pantry on Wednesday, November 12. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
Families of three or more were given a turkey for Thanksgiving, and the pantry will see to it that anyone who is in need this Christmas, or any time of the year, will be able to put food on the table.
And, speaking of being thankful, Donald says, “It’s a God thing. He does it for us every year for this pantry. We get low on food, and He fills up our shelves. He gets all the credit. He sends the people here, and we thank Him for it.”
The Long Beach Food Pantry is located at 21801 Johnson Drive in Long Beach and is open for food distribution on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. They can be reached by calling 228-861-1291.
