Our hearts go out to our neighbors in LA who have been affected by the devastating wildfires.
Our California neighbors are not only facing the loss of homes and communities – they are also facing the challenge of food insecurity and losing access to other basic needs. As a Feeding America Disaster Hub we’re proud to be able to support our partner food bank in LA with emergency food and water for those displaced by the disaster.
See how we’re supporting LA County here, and read on to learn more about the critical role food banks play during natural disasters like these.
‘Second responders’
After disaster strikes, the immediate assistance of first responders can mean the difference between life and death.
Once the initial threat is stabilized, ‘second responders,’ like the Food Bank, jump into action to help care for the community members displaced and affected by the crisis. We promptly provide food and water in the aftermath and offer longer-term food assistance to people rebuilding their lives.
Strong Partnerships Are Key
The Food Bank has an established mutual aid agreement with four Bay Area food banks that allows the organizations to quickly coordinate efforts and concentrate support where it is needed. This plan was activated for the first time during the 2017 Sonoma complex fires, and again for the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County.
Partnership with organizations like Feeding America also play a significant role in providing ready-to-eat food and water in crisis situations. As a Disaster Hub for Feeding America, the Food Bank can help coordinate, receive and ship pallets of water, shelf-stable food and gift cards to areas impacted by natural disasters – as we did during the Maui wildfires in 2023.
The Food Bank’s 260 partner agencies often do the ‘boots on the ground’ work during disasters in the outer reaches of the Food Bank’s service area. These grassroots local organizations are supported by the Food Bank to work hand-in-hand with the community and help fulfill the most urgent needs, as well as provide ongoing support.
We Are More Ready Than Ever
The Food Bank is constantly evaluating its disaster response efforts and working to improve our response. In 2021 the Food Bank moved into a new, 104,000-square-foot warehouse in Fairfield that has enough space to keep ready-to-eat food and water on hand to improve our disaster response readiness.
In addition, the Food Bank now prepares Ready-Set Meal kits annually. These kits contain a day’s worth of ready-to-eat meals and snacks for one person and don’t require kitchen equipment to prepare and enjoy. They are ideal for emergency response and contain a balance of healthy, nutritious foods.
We’re quick to adapt to what communities need no matter where that takes us. To provide the fastest response possible, we distribute many of these boxes in weatherproof storage units across Northern California, where the transportation network can be easily disrupted by wildfires. This ensures our partners on scene can access emergency food right away, even if the disaster results in road closures.
Just like families and individuals, the Food Bank’s ability to effectively respond to crises depends on preparation. By preparing its response for the next emergency, the Food Bank stands firm in its commitment to “lead the fight to end hunger, in partnership with our community, and in service of our neighbors in need.”
