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Orange County Coronavirus

Local Food Pantries Get More Government Funding as Unemployment Rates Reach New Heights

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

Volunteers load a pickup truck with a box of donations from the Second Harvest Food Bank of OC in Irvine, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

By Hosam Elattar | May 21, 2020
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A growing network of food pantries that have evolved to feed Orange County residents during the pandemic are beginning to see a similar funding network arise.


Editor’s Note: As Orange County’s only nonprofit & nonpartisan newsroom, Voice of OC brings you the best, most comprehensive local Coronavirus news absolutely free. No ads, no paywalls. We need your help. Please, click here to make a tax-deductible donation today to support your local news.


The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this past Tuesday to approve a $3 million agreement to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Community Action Partnership of Orange County to assist with their emergency food distributions through the Social Services agency.

“Food insecurity continues to be the number one ask within the community. 61 percent of our applications are CalFresh applications,” said Debra Baetz, the director of the Orange County Social Services Agency, at Tuesday’s public board meeting. 

“That $3 million funding opportunity to help the food banks is both FEMA and (CARES Act) reimbursable funding, it’s 100 percent federal funding.”

Both nonprofits will receive one time advance payments of $500,000 in their fight against food insecurity. The OC Food Bank is a subsidiary of the Community Action Partnership of Orange County. 

Second Harvest CEO Harald Herrmann said their Saturday pantry costs about $60,000 and serves about 4,500 people every week. 

In February, Second Harvest fed 250,000 people. In April, they fed almost 500,000.

The non-profit will also receive over 30,000 boxes of fresh produce each week through December under a new federal program under the department of agriculture called the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program.

The $19 billion federal program will use CARES act money to support farmers also hit financially by the pandemic.

“This USDA food is a significant shot in the arm for us and it’s fantastic produce,” Herrmann said.  “It just made our process that much easier in terms of food procurement.” 

He added that the federal support is a good amount of food but it’s only about a third of what they need.

“What was a sprint is now a marathon,” Herrmann said. “But the thing that’s most complicated is unemployment and that’s the thing that scares us the most and that’s what we’re focused on.”

“We’re going to be spending considerably more money on food than we have in the past.”

Herrmann said for the most part donations from corporations, family trusts and individuals funded the food bank’s operations before the federal support.

“Since COVID began, we’ve been running off of our own fundraising efforts,” Herrmann said. “The USDA program and now this CARES funding is the first real federal money to arrive and we’ve been at this for 12 weeks.”

He said that usually the food bank works behind the scenes helping pantries feed the county but because of closures they were forced to the forefront to fight food insecurity. 

Over time they hope to transition back to that role as other pantries are able to meet the demand. Second Harvest is looking to run their Honda Center pantry through June and direct visitors to pantries closer to their homes.

“The reality is that there’s gonna be a lot of families struggling to get back onto their feet because of unemployment and food security will be with us for some time and it’s a baseline need to keep our community healthy,” he said.

Baetz said that the number one ask for high risk seniors is also food.

“We had this week beginning yesterday in South County and today in North and Central launched the Great Plates program so deliveries have begun. Over 900 meals were served yesterday through our partner Age Well, who also assists with who also runs the senior Meals Program for the county,” said Dylan Wright, Director of OC Community resources.

The Great Plates Delivered program is a statewide initiative launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 24 with the purpose of getting meals to adults 65 and older as well as high risk seniors while supporting local restaurants and food providers suffering economically from business closures.

Supervisor Don Wagner criticized the state’s delay in providing guidelines on how to implement the program.

“Isn’t this everything that’s wrong with government?” Wagner asked.

“This is something that the state has crammed down on us that sounds like a great idea but here we are struggling to administer it because we’re late getting guidelines from the state.”

The program will help large and medium sized businesses in the first week than small businesses by week four, Wright said.

“We’re only able to satisfy those guidelines by inviting the people that aren’t really the targets of the government largess I just think it’s a poster child for what’s wrong with the state in the state’s approach,” Wagner said.

For anybody in need of food there are pantries across the county handing it out for free.

These include:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County 

Every Saturday from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. at the Honda Center

2695 E Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92806

The Vineyard Anaheim Church

Every Wednesday and Thursday from 9-11 a.m. at the church. 

5340 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807

Laguna Food Pantry

Monday-Friday 8:00 am-10:30 am

20652 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Yorba Linda Community Center

Every Thursday 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

4501 Casa Loma Avenue Yorba Linda, CA 92886

The Salvation Army Southern California

Every Monday 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Friday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.

1515 West North Street Anaheim, CA 92801

Or

Tuesday-Thursday 1-3 p.m.

10200 Pioneer Road Tustin, CA 92782

United Across Borders Foundation

Saturday May 23 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

235 S Pine Dr. Fullerton, CA 92833

For more food assistance options visit 211 OC.

If you operate a drive through food pantry in Orange County and would like our newsroom to be aware of your efforts, reach out to Hosam Elattar at [email protected] or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.

How can I sign up for a vaccine?

For full details on the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County view our Voice of OC vaccine page that is constantly updated and has links of where to register for an appointment: http://bit.ly/occovidvaccine.

What is COVID-19? Do I have it?

INFORMATION View the CDC website. View OC's website. View the latest OC case counts.

TRANSLATIONS See the county's guides in non-English languages. Learn key Coronavirus facts in Vietnamese and Spanish via VietRise. See VietRISE guides in Spanish and Vietnamese.

PROTECTION To limit exposure, the CDC recommends: wash your hands often, avoid close contact with others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth mask when around others, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

SYMPTOMS The CDC identifies these key symptoms that can occur any time between 2 and 14 days after exposure: Fever or chills, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches,  headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect Coronavirus, CALL your primary medical provider.

EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS If you display any of the following emergency warning signs, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

RISK The CDC identifies people most at risk for serious illness: Older adults, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

What is open?

RESIDENTS The County of Orange offers a list of notices and news on what guidance is given for families and persons.

SCHOOLS The latest information for the county is available from the Orange County Board of Education.

STATE GUIDE TO WHAT IS OPEN A full list of statewide guidelines for what is open and what is closed.

SOCIAL DISTANCING Staying away from other people is called "social distancing." The aim is to SLOW the spread of Coronavirus so as to not overwhelm the nation's health care systems and so that people in need can get help. The Washington Post explains: "The spread (of COVID-19) can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice "social distancing" by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement."

What support is available?

STRESS & ANXIETY Stress and anxiety can be triggered by the situation and resources are available to help from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and from the American Psychology Association. Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious, here are tips on talking with children about COVID-19.

MENTAL HEALTH The County of Orange offers a list of available mental health support services.

FIRST RESPONDERS The County of Orange offers these support services for first responders and health care workers.

BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS The County of Orange offers a list of up-to-date guidelines for business and faith-based/community organizations.

FOOD ASSISTANCE Voice of OC offers a weekly list of available food pantries in Orange County. You can also apply for food benefits over the phone through the CalFresh program at 800-281-9799 or online.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Buses and trains still offer service, but routes have been reduced so make sure to check your route ahead of time.

HOMELESSNESS The County of Orange offers a list of available shelter beds and other resources.

GENERAL FINANCIAL HELP Here are some services:

  •   • Find information on unemployment and disability benefits.
  •   • The Orange County Social Services Agency, despite closing its lobby, is processing online filings for assistance programs. This includes emergency cash assistance for immediate needs like rent or medical bills. The phone line has averaged a 30 minute wait time and offers a callback service, but people are encouraged to apply for benefits online.
  •   • Residents can apply for any of these programs by calling 800-281-9799.

RESTAURANT OWNERS & EMPLOYEES You can find a detailed list of resources available to restaurant owners and employees

How can I help?

VOLUNTEERING A statewide guide offers examples of ways to volunteer safely during Coronavirus. Options include, but are not limited to: donating plasma, making cloth face masks and supporting local food banks. Orange County's Second Harvest Food Bank lists support options online.

DONATIONS An Orange County Community Resilience Fund has been started through the OC Community Foundation to raise money for local nonprofits and volunteer organizations.

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