Long Beach, California – Help Me Help You (HMHY) launches new food pantry location at Cesar Chavez Elementary School commencing 3rd February, 2021. With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and millions of Americans still out of work, hunger remains a fast growing and critical problem for our residents. The domino effect of an increase in economic instability and health crisis, sadly equates to climbing rates of food insecurity - explained as a lack of consistent access to enough food to maintain a healthy life.
The escalating rate of food insecurity in America is not attributed to a scarcity of food but rather to rising levels of poverty. Although, Long Beach is home to some of America’s richest residents, more than 23% of residents and 33% of children are living below the nations poverty rate. This includes the working poor, where full-time employed family members are on low wages. The current economic crisis has also seen an increase in unemployment and therefore residents that have never needed to or are not aware of how to access food pantry services. “Food Insecurity is a critical problem crippling our residents. It leads to depression, unproductivity, illness and more adverse effects for individuals, families and the community, so it’s important that those in need are aware of and can access free nutritious food when they need it,” said Zina Washington, HMHY Executive Director.
HMHY already operates food pantries in six Long Beach locations as well as a new Long Beach Food Pantry Delivery service to cater for residents who are unable to access food pantry locations due to age, disability, COVID-19 infections/quarantine, and underlying health conditions. Cesar Chevez Elementary School is now the 7th HMHY food pantry location in Long Beach feeding those in need free nutritious groceries every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month between 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
HMHY Food Pantry locations and Food Pantry Delivery service also cater for special dietary requirements due to food allergies, health or religious reasons, as well as cultural and other preferences. To assist with the costs of providing special dietary foods and to meet the growing demand for delivery, donations can be made at GoFundMe Charity. To register to receive HMHY Food Pantry Delivery, individuals can complete the registration form at helpmehelpu.org/lbfpd or call (562) 518 9760. Residents who are interested in volunteering to help at a HMHY food pantry location can register at helpmehelpu.org/volunteer
Founded in 2004, Help Me Help You is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, dedicated to uplifting the lives of homeless and low-income residents by increasing access to food, public benefits, economic security, affordable housing as well as providing Social Security Benefits claims assistance to the public.
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