Where to Donate to the Needy

During the season of giving, organizations that serve the hungry and poor are again relying on donations to make this holiday season as joyous as possible for all.

Doris Bloch, executive director of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, says her agency, which feeds 275,000 people a week, expects to distribute 37 million to 38 million pounds of food by the end of the year. She says that despite a low unemployment rate, plenty of people are still turning to food pantries.

“They have jobs but they don’t make enough money at their jobs to pay the rent and buy food,” Bloch says. “It’s a real shame because it’s turning L.A. into a Third World city with the very rich and the very poor.”

Donated food should be fresh and not out of date, food bank personnel say; canned goods, peanut butter, rice and pasta are good donations because they have long shelf lives. Many of the centers are tight on freezer space, which they like to save for frozen meats, such as turkeys and hams.

“We appreciate nourishing food that has some shelf life,” says Linda Alexander, resource development coordinator at Rainbow Services Ltd., an agency in San Pedro that assists battered women and children. “If people bring a puzzle with missing pieces and old food, we can’t use it.”

Of course the spirit of giving shouldn’t stop at the holidays. There is demand year-round for food and clothing. Edward Delgado, executive director of the St. Francis Center, says there is a need for volunteers to serve food as well.

The following is a list of places where you can donate food, clothing and other items. It’s best to call and confirm drop-off hours and acceptable donations. Despite posted times, many of the programs run on limited budgets and cannot keep regular hours.

CENTRAL LOS ANGELES

AIDS Project L.A.’s Necessities of Life Program: 1313 N. Vine St., Los Angeles, (323) 993-1532. Accepts nonperishable foods Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bethany Emergency Center: 4975 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. All foods accepted Thursdays 10 a.m. to noon. To schedule a drop-off, leave a message at (323) 662-4176 or (323) 663-5122.

First Church of the Nazarene of Los Angeles: 3401 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (213) 385-6345. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.

Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women: 267 N. Belmont Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 250-5241. All foods accepted seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, (323) 234-3030. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ask for Damian Leon or Frank Farzan.

Midnight Mission: 396 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, (213) 624-9258. All foods accepted seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Pueblo Nuevo: 1724 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, (213) 483-2000. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also at 1736 W. 7th St., Los Angeles; Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Union Rescue Mission: 545 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles, (213) 628-6103 or (213) 347-6300, Ext. 2121. All foods can be delivered directly to the loading dock Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. At other hours, delivery can be made at reception area; security personnel will accept donations.

PASADENA/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Arcadia Welfare & Thrift: 323 N. 1st Ave., Arcadia, (626) 447-2881. Nonperishable foods and clothing accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Community Food Bank: 2021 W. Alwood St. (Willowood School building), West Covina, (626) 814-2862. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Delhaven Community Center: 15135 Fairgrove Ave., La Puente, (626) 917-9789. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

People for People: 860 E. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, (626) 285-2549. All foods accepted. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pomona Valley Council of Churches Hunger Program: (909) 622-3806. Beta Center, 1095 W. Grand Ave., Pomona, (909) 622-7278. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other collection locations: West End Hunger Program, SOVA (Feed the Hungry), 635 S. Taylor Ave., Ontario, (909) 391-4882, and 110 E. 3rd St., San Dimas, (no phone). Accepts nonperishable foods Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 to 4 p.m.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Burbank Temporary Aid Center: 1304 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, (818) 846-2330. All foods, especially turkeys and hams, accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m.

Catholic Charities Glendale Community Center: 4322 San Fernando Road, Glendale, (818) 409-3080. Frozen turkeys and nonperishable foods accepted Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon.

Guadalupe Center: 21600 Hart St., Canoga Park, (818) 340-2050. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MEND: 13460 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima (818) 896-0246. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SOVA (Feed the Hungry): 6027 1/2 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana. (818) 342-1320. Nonperishable foods accepted Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, Fridays 10 a.m. to noon, Sundays 10:30 a.m. to noon.

SOUTH BAY

Catholic Charities: 123 E. 14th St., Long Beach, (562) 591-1351. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

House of Yahweh: 4430 W. 147th St., Lawndale, (310) 675-1384. All foods, clothing and toiletries accepted Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go to back and ring bell.

Long Beach Rescue Mission: 1335 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, (562) 591-1292. All foods accepted seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Rainbow Services Ltd.: 554 W. 7th St., San Pedro, (310) 548-5450. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Food Bank of Southern California: 1444 San Francisco Ave., Long Beach, (562) 435-3577. Serves more than 400 food pantries throughout Los Angeles County. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

SOUTH-CENTRAL

Helpers for the Homeless and Hungry Program: 2513-29 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 299-8670. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Human Services Assn.: 6800 Florence Ave., Bell Gardens, (562) 806-5400. All food goes to southeast Los Angeles County residents only. Nonperishable goods and bread accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WESTSIDE

PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): 2346 Cotner Ave., Los Angeles, (310) 996-0034. Nonperishables and perishables accepted seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Regis House: 11346 Iowa Ave., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-8168. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ORANGE COUNTY

Episcopal Service Alliance: 310 W. Broadway, Room 203, Anaheim, (714) 776-7510. Nonperishable and perishable foods accepted Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Orange County Rescue Mission: 1421 Edinger Ave., Suite B, Tustin, (888) 946-4673. Nonperishable foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Second Harvest Food Bank: 426-A W. Almond Ave., Orange, (714) 771-1343. Nonperishables accepted Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also can refer to 298 other locations in Orange County.

Share Our Selves: 1550 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-3451. All foods accepted Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.