211 & Food Pantries
If you or someone you know is displaced, 211 and food pantries can help support a lot of your daily food needs. Towns I’ve visited have 211, including Orange County, CA, Tallahassee, Florida and Columbus, Ohio.
Here is a list of two of the better food pantries near Irvine, CA.
1) Laguna Food Pantry offers boxes, day bags and weekend bags. As a displaced individual without permanent housing, items needing refrigerators or cooking are not helpful, so for those needing dry goods or just a day bag, Laguna Food Pantry located on 133, provides a resource with fresh food. Ask for nut free items, fresh salads and check expiration dates on all items before driving off. What I like about Laguna Food Pantry is the drive through process, and their registration system. Their volunteers are exceptional, friendly and helpful. The only advice I can give here is be very careful about expiration dates. If you are uncomfortable taking an item that’s a week old, even if federal guidelines suggest otherwise, you can politely ask for an item that’s current.
Several people have looked for fresh salads, protein drinks, and of course, water.
they sometimes have bread, fresh flowers and other fun items like chocolate.
I advise you get there before 7:30 am. If you are on foot, they will help walkups.
For drivers, the line is long so get there early. Hours are 8-10:30 Monday through Friday.
The weekend bag that I picked up this Friday was filled with dry goods, A yummy Korean dried pork snack, and other tasty snacks. A protein drinks, water and a can of Spam was provided.
2) Saddleback Lake Forest Food Pantry
They have an incredible team including Sherry who has assembled a group of volunteers that’s in there every day Monday through Saturday 8-4:00. If you go on Saturday afternoon, you can time your visit right before 4 pm church service.
They offer dry goods, boxes, and day bags. Cereal, cans of vegetables, and chicken or tuna cans or occasionally packets are available. Water, wipes, sanitary napkins, pads, tampons, socks, toothpaste and toothbrush are available. Shampoo and other items are also available.
They are connected to the Peace Center who provides legal resources And prayer and therapy.
Church is 4 & 6 on Saturdays and 9 & 11 on Sundays.
1 comment
I visited United Way of Tallahassee on 7th Avenue this morning. I met the CEO, Berneice Cox (https://www.uwof.org/berneice-cox, Berneice Cox is President and CEO of the United Way of the Big Bend), and Rhonda, on her team. I appreciated the immediate resources and financial relief provided this morning. I’ll create a separate entry on food pantries that are in stock, and available to all. I think Tallahassee needs some drive-up and walk-up food pantries, that provide day or go bags, and weekend bags. As I have driven to four or five pantries, I have yet to find one that is available to all who are in need. Florida State has a food pantry that is available to their students in Building A, on campus. Holy Comforter Episcopal Church offers a food pantry on Saturday mornings. Grace Mission offers hot daily meals, but appears to be overwhelmed with demand.