The coronavirus outbreak has increased financial insecurity for some people who have been furloughed or laid-off and are waiting to get back to work to provide a living. As many as two million people face food insecurity, according to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and the pandemic has only increased the need for food.
Michael Flood, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, tells Inside the Issues their food distribution increased by more than 80 percent from mid-March to the end of April.
“The biggest challenge for us is, with food coming in [at 30 percent] higher than before the pandemic hit, and food distribution up more than 80 percent, that presents a sort of a gap,” he said. “So, what food banks do is we supplement our donated inventory with food purchases, so we're doing more of that to try to fill this gap in terms of food and the demands throughout the community, which are significant.”
The food bank also serves nonprofit organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and senior programs as well as distributing food directly to families and other individuals in need.
The uptick in demand has required the food bank to increase their distribution. They have also adjusted to meet public health directives and limit interaction with those in need by using a drive-thru method to provide food for those who need it.
“One gentleman last week said, ‘I've been working 40 years. I've always been self-sufficient, I’ve never needed food assistance before, this is my first time. I'm waiting for unemployment to kick in and I’m out of food.’ Those kinds of stories, we’re hearing with some frequency. It's kind of hard for all of us to wrap our heads around how many people this has impacted so quickly. It’s like we are trying to catch up with the numbers,” he said.
Flood said people have been very appreciative of being able to access food.
“A lot of smiles sometimes relief on the side of people getting food they desperately need, but overall, in a strange way, a lot of warmth, where there's people here to help, and people who desperately need this help because many, they’re out of food,” he said.
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