The Gift of Food : A Guide to Holiday Donation Sites

“I have absolutely no good news this year,” says Doris Bloch, executive director of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

When she came to the food bank in 1983, Bloch says, she never dreamed that 12 years later it would be harder to get surplus food to feed the hungry. But it is.

Food manufacturers that used to donate tons of slightly damaged, improperly packaged and outdated items now sell them to secondary markets--Pic ‘n’ Save and the 99 Cent Store, for instance--where they get about 15 cents on the dollar.

There has also been a drop in commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Last year, the L.A. food bank received 9 million pounds of food from the USDA; this year it got only 3 million pounds. And the USDA is expected to receive more cuts in food programs that probably will be felt in a year or so.

But you can help. From this list find a place in your neighborhood or city and give what food you can. Most places also accept toys, clothes, toiletries and, of course, cash. And volunteered time, if you have it, is invaluable.

CENTRAL LOS ANGELES

AIDS Project L.A.’s Necessities of Life Program: 1313 N. Vine St., Los Angeles, (213) 993-1600, Ext. 1331. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Canned goods, staples.

All People’s Christian Center: 822 E. 20th St., Los Angeles, (213) 747-6357. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Canned goods, staples.

Angelus Plaza: 255 S. Hill St., Los Angeles, (213) 623-4352. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canned goods.

Bethany Emergency Services: 4975 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 661-8674. Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All foods.

Chrysalis Center: 516 S. Main St., Los Angeles, (213) 895-7777. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

Dolores Mission: 171 S. Gless St., Los Angeles, (213) 881-0017. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

Eastmont Community Center: 701 S. Hoefner Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 726-7998. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All foods.

El Centro Del Pueblo: 1157 Lemoyne St., Los Angeles, (213) 483-6335. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

El Rescate: 1340 S. Bonnie Brae St., Los Angeles, (213) 387-3284. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

First Church of the Nazarene of Los Angeles: 3401 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (213) 385-6345. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

Fred Jordan Mission: 445 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 489-7763 and (818) 915-1981. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women: 267 N. Belmont Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 250-5241. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call to make make special arrangements. Canned foods, staples.

House of Ruth: 605 N. Cummings St., Los Angeles, (213) 266-4139. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

Las Familias del Pueblo: 307 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, (213) 614-1745. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone): 310 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 936-0895 and 936-4959 W. 147th St., Hawthorne. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, (213) 234-3030. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods. Can also refer to more than 750 other agencies throughout L.A. County.

Los Angeles Mission: 303 E. 5th St., Los Angeles, (213) 629-1227. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All foods.

Los Angeles Youth Network: 1550 N. Gower Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 957-7340. Daily 24 hours. Canned foods and staples.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California: 4975 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 661-8674. Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Canned goods, staples.

Midnight Mission: 396 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, (213) 624-9258. Daily 24 hours, but daytime delivery is preferred. All foods.

Project Angel Food: 7574 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 656-9615. Sundays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Non-perishable foods, in quantity.

Plaza Community Center: 648 S. Indiana St., Los Angeles, (213) 268-1107. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All foods except frozen products.

Rakestraw Memorial Center: 5139 S. Main St., Los Angeles, (213) 232-2258. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

St. Francis Center: 1203 S. Santee St., Los Angeles, (213) 747-5347. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1:30 p.m.), Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon. All foods.

St. Vincent’s Cardinal Manning Center: 231 Winston St., Los Angeles, (213) 626-3744. Daily 24hours. All foods.

Salvation Army, Harbor Light Center: 809 E. 5th St., Los Angeles, (213) 626-4786. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m to 4 p.m. All foods.

Transition House: 543 S. Crocker St., Los Angeles, (213) 622-7073. Mondays through Fridays, 8a.m. through 4 p.m. All foods.

Union Rescue Mission: 545 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, (213) 628-6103. Daily, 24 hours. Notnecessary to park; security at front door will accept donations. All foods.

United American Indian Involvement--Crisis Center: 118 Winston St., Los Angeles, (213) 625-2565. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. All foods.

PASADENA/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Arcadia Welfare & Thrift: 323 N. 1st Ave., Arcadia, (818) 447-2881. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

Community Food Bank: 1501 W. Del Norte St., Room 21, West Covina, (818) 814-2862. Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

Delhaven Community Center: 15135 Fairgrove, La Puente, (818) 917-9789. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

El Monte-South El Monte Emergency Resources Assn.: 2645 Lee Ave., No. 6, El Monte. (818) 444-7269. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena: 3700 Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, (818) 351-9631. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Non-perishables.

Foothill Area Community Services: 1040 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, (818) 440-5910. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Non-perishables.

People for People: 860 E. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, (818) 285-2549. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

Pomona Valley Council of Churches Hunger Program, Beta Center: 1095 W. Grand Ave., Pomona, (714) 622-7278. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Other collection locations: West End Hunger Program, SOVA, 635 S. Taylor Ave., Ontario; San Dimas Site, 110 E. 3rd Ave., San Dimas (no telephone), open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 2 p.m. through 4 p.m. Canned and frozen food, uncooked staples.

St. John Vianney: 1345 Turnball Canyon Road, Hacienda Heights, (818) 330-2269, Ext. 124. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. All foods.

Union Station: 412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (818) 449-4596. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Large, non-perishable canned or packaged foods.

YWCA-WINGS: 631 S. Eremland Ave., Covina, (818) 915-5191. Call before making delivery. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Burbank Temporary Aid Center: 1304 W. Burbank Blvd., (818) 846-2330. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

Guadalupe Center: 21600 Hart St., Canoga Park, (818) 340-2050. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. Canned foods, staples.

Loaves and Fishes: 229 S. Orange St., Glendale, (818) 247-8196. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

MEND: 13460 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, (818) 896-0246. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry: 4390 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood, (818) 760-3575. Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All foods.

SOUTH BAY

Catholic Charities: 123 E. 14th St., Long Beach, (310) 591-1351. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All foods.

Christian Outreach Appeal: 515 E. 3rd St., Long Beach, (310) 432-1440. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

House of Yahweh: 4430 W. 147th St., Lawndale, (310) 675-1384. Mondays through Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All foods.

Long Beach Rescue Mission: 1335 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, (310) 591-1292. Daily, 24 hours. All foods.

Rainbow Services Ltd.: 567 W. 6th St., San Pedro, (310) 548-5450. Mondays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

St. Margaret’s Center: 10505 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne, (310) 672-2208. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: 25511 Eshelman Ave., Lomita, (310) 326-3364. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

St. Peter and Paul Poverty Program: 943 Lagoon Ave., Wilmington, (310) 834-5431. Daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All foods.

Food Bank of Southern California: 1444 San Francisco Ave., Long Beach, (310) 435-3577. Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All foods. Serves 240 food pantries throughout Los Angeles County.

Toberman Settlement House: 131 N. Grand Ave., San Pedro, (310) 832-1145. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.). All foods.

SOUTH CENTRAL

Emergency Assistance Program (care of Human Services of the city of Gardena): 1651 W. 162nd St., Gardena, (310) 217-9574. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staples, vouchers; no perishables.

Helpers for the Homeless and Hungry Program: 2513-29 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 299-8670. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All foods.

Human Services Assn.: 6800 E. Florence Ave., Bell Gardens, (310) 806-5400. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Canned foods.

Parents of Watts: 10828 Lou Dillon St., Los Angeles, (213) 566-7556. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All foods.

St. Cecilia Catholic Church: 4230 S. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 294-6628. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

Westminster Neighborhood Assn.: 1776 E. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 564-6781. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food.

WESTSIDE

PATH: 3756 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 558-4295. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. All foods.

Regis House: 11346 Iowa Ave., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-8168. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Canned foods, non-perishables. (Will accept perishable items with notice.)

St. Joseph Center: 204 Hampton Drive, Venice, (310) 392-5101 or (310) 396-6468. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

SOVA (Feed the Hungry): 11852 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 820-8868. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Non-perishable foods. Also at 7563 1/2 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 932-1658.

ORANGE COUNTY

Catholic Charities: 2829 West 1st St., Santa Ana, (714) 543-3924. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2 through 5 p.m. Non-perishable foods.

Hope House: 714 N. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 776-7490. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

Lutheran Social Services: 12432 9th St., Garden Grove, (714) 534-6450. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All foods.

Orange County Rescue Mission: 1901 W. Walnut St., Santa Ana, (714) 835-0499. Daily, 24 hours. All foods.

St. Vincent de Paul Food Distribution Center: 426-A W. Almond Ave., Orange, (714) 771-1343. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canned foods, staples, turkeys. Also can refer to 241 other locations throughout Orange County.

Share Our Selves: 1550 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa, (714) 642-3451. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All foods.

PALMDALE/LANCASTER

SAVES: 38513 6th St. East, Palmdale, (805) 273-6470. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

Grace Resources Inc., 44932 N. Yucca St., Suite B, Lancaster, (805) 940-5272. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All foods.

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

Los Angeles County Community Services Center: 24271 San Fernando Road, Newhall, (805) 254-0070. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Non-perishable foods. Volunteers also needed.

SAN DIEGO AREA

Catholic Charities: 349 Cedar St., San Diego, (619) 231-2828. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. Canned foods, staples.

Heartland Human Relations Assn.: 7435 University Ave., Suite 202, La Mesa, (619) 464-7313 or (619) 460-2744. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Canned foods, staples. Also can refer to other locations throughout East County.

Horizon Christian Fellowship: 5331 Mt. Alifan Drive, San Diego, (619) 277-4991. Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. All foods.

Lutheran Social Services: 4354 Van Dyke Ave., San Diego; (619) 280-1328. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call ahead. Canned foods, staples.

Lutheran Social Services, Project Hand: 580 Hilltop Drive, Chula Vista, (619) 425-4061. Mondays through Fridays. 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Canned food, staples.

Salvation Army, Christmas Headquarters: 3520 Kurtz St., San Diego, (619)231-3260. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Canned foods, staples. Need foods as soon as possible for distribution Dec. 17 through 24. Call other locations for drop-off sites: El Cajon (619) 440-3579; Escondido (619) 745-8616; Oceanside (619) 631-8212; Chula Vista (619) 476-9782.

San Diego Food Bank: 33375 Decatur Road, San Diego, (619) 523-8811. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Canned foods, staples. Also can refer to other feeding programs throughout San Diego County.

San Diego Rescue Mission: 1150 J St., San Diego, (619) 234-2109. Daily, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. All foods.