SOUTH-CENTRAL : L.A. Food Bank Gets $10,000 Grant

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is among the first recipients of a $10,000 grant from Share Our Strength, a nonprofit foundation that is raising money for hunger relief groups.

Bill Shore, head of the Washington-based foundation, said the “$10,000 or $30,000 to an organization like this can mean organizing a dozen communities and starting new programs.”

The Food Bank, at 1734 E. 41st St., will use the grant to buy a computer and equipment to store and transport food.

Among the programs the Food Bank operates is Extra Helpings, which enlists 135 hotels, restaurants and caterers to donate prepared food.

Shore said Share our Strength is expected to distribute more than $5 million to hunger relief groups across the country in the next three months. The money is part of the Charge Against Hunger campaign sponsored by American Express.

Said Shore: “Hunger in Los Angeles is on par with other major cities. And while people aren’t starving to death, it’s a problem. It’s growing three times as fast as the general population and it’s going to affect everyone.”