LOS ANGELES — For several weeks, a team of community organizers has been hosting a free food box distribution in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, where thousands of boxes have been given out to families in need. The demand is so great, the line of cars waiting for the drive through caused a mini traffic jam along Spring Street. 

What You Need To Know

  • Funded by the USDA and Department of Education, the free food distribution is helping families meet nutritional needs at a time when inflation is skyrocketing

  • The event, which has been held in DTLA weekly, has been announced on the Free Food LA Facebook page

  • Volunteers from LA's Jewish, Latino and other communities have been helping with the drive through distribution of thousands of boxes of fresh produce, pantry items and milk

Lior Facher of Prime Nosh, the Nevada-based company supplying the food, said right now the need is great.

“For a lot of low-income families in the area, and especially with inflation, it’s really hard for the parents to fund every lunch, fund every dinner, fund every breakfast,” Facher said. “So, this is a way to help out.”

The boxes contain fresh produce and pantry items, one box per child in each family, and containers of milk are also being distributed. Each box is meant to last for five days. Leaders from LA’s Jewish and Latino communities are helping with the distribution which is funded by the USDA and Department of Education.

“Everyone has such a great attitude,” Facher said as he helped direct traffic through the busy event. “Everyone is helping and really, without everyone around us, this would not be possible.”

With inflation recently reaching a 40-year high, families are feeling the effects of skyrocketing food prices. Nicole Lanza came with her family, which includes four kids and, like many oldest siblings, she has been helping take care of her family like a parent. 

“It’s been kind of hard because dad lost his job for like two months because of COVID,” explained Lanza. “And it was just mom and me working, trying to maintain the family.”

Lanza’s family heard about the giveaway on the Free Food LA Facebook page, and as this was their first time here, they came early and spread the word to others.

“There’s a lot of people in need, you know, for food,” she said. “Like us, Latin families. Hispanic people. And I’m just very happy that they’re doing [this].”

As the word about the event has spread, people have been coming from neighborhoods near and far to get a little help, especially at a time when many kids have been home from school.

“Boxes are worth around $125 worth of groceries, and that’s a lot of money these days,” said Facher. “The USDA created this program to make sure that no child gets left behind and every child is fed every day nutritious meals.”

The events are being held in DTLA every Sunday until further notice. Information can be found on the Free Food LA Facebook page.