Thousands of pounds of food items were lined up on tables in the gymnasium at Las Palmas Park in the City of San Fernando, ready to be freely distributed to the community.
There was a healthful selection of milk, juice, bottled water, canned goods, tomatoes, grapes, oranges, strawberries, bananas, pears, bread and condiments.
More than a hundred people waited in line outside the gym, stretching around the corner, ready with bags and small carts to stock up on groceries for themselves and their families. For more than an hour and a half, volunteers for Ignite The Light Of Hope Foundation – the community-based nonprofit in Sylmar that organized the food distribution event – handed out all the food they had available.
“In every city, there’s a huge need, especially because food insecurity is at its highest right now,” said Lorraine Aceves, the nonprofit’s founder and president. “Everything’s so expensive right now, especially with children out of school and unable to get free meals, so during the summer we come together and unite [to] lift up the spirits of those who are struggling.”
The nonprofit was founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been growing since then. Instead of having these food distribution events at one location, the nonprofit brings the food to different centers and parks within the City of San Fernando, Pacoima and Sylmar every Friday.
The foundation partners with different organizations – including MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) and the Dream Center, a Los Angeles-based organization that provides support to those suffering from homelessness, hunger and lack of education – to be able to provide food to families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
It also relies on donations and other grants from local city councils and businesses. The most recent food distribution in the City of San Fernando was possible through a $5,000 grant they received from the local City Council.
“For us to get funding from anybody helps so much and alleviates the stress upon us,” Aceves said. “Sometimes [the funding] comes out of our own pocket to be able to support our community. But if we get the extra funding, we’re able to provide more food, more of these essential items, [including] diapers, wipes, whatever the need is.”
In the past month, though, the nonprofit has found itself addressing an immediate unexpected need. Due to the raids by federal immigration authorities that have taken place throughout the valley and communities throughout LA since June 6, many people have been afraid to leave their homes.
So a month ago, the foundation launched a pilot program where volunteers instead take bags of food straight to people’s homes on the same day they hold their distribution events. Aceves said they’ve received dozens of messages through emails, phone calls and social media from people asking for help.
She recounted one story of a young girl asking for assistance after her dad wasn’t able to provide for his family because he was too scared to go to work for weeks. Not able to go to work has meant they aren’t earning money to pay their rent, bills or to purchase groceries.
“I knew there was a need, and we established it quickly,” Aceves said. “Our team of volunteers … will go and drop off the bags at their doors. We do not knock on the doors, we do not ask any questions, because a lot of people are in fear right now. We don’t want to make it difficult for them or to create any kind of trust issues.”
More food distribution events are scheduled. Las Palmas Park will be the location for this Friday at 11:30 a.m. Plans are still being finalized for next week’s event, but on Aug. 8, the foundation will be going to Vaughn Family & Community Center in Pacoima and then El Cariso Park in Sylmar the following week.
To ask about being part of the pilot program, contact Ignitetlh@gmail.com. For more information, go to https://www.ignitetlh.org/.