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Orange County Coronavirus

Food Pantries Continue to Serve as Orange County Begins to Open Up

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

Volunteers from The Power of One Foundation direct traffic and load groceries during the drive through food pantry at Santa Ana College on April 11, 2020.

By Hosam Elattar | June 12, 2020
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Efforts to feed the hungry in Orange County still wage on even as more people begin to return to work following months of business closures forced by the Coronavirus pandemic.


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.


As businesses try to recover from their losses, the network of drive through pantries in the county that emerged to feed those in need as unemployment rates reached record numbers are continuing their mission to get food out to the community.

Andre Roberson, the executive director of the Power of One Foundation, a non-profit that aims to fight hunger and poverty through food assistance, said the need for food is still there and there are businesses that still can’t or won’t reopen.

“The demand, I don’t see it going away anytime soon. I think that we need to wait till we get around into August and September to really reassess it,” he said.

Roberson said while the demand for food is still there, the number of people volunteering is dropping as people return to work. Despite this they continue to hold food pantries.

The Power of One Foundation is now holding weekly distributions until August at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays where they can serve anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 cars.

“The move to the fairgrounds was something that was in the works for a minute,” Roberson said. “It’s a landmark place everybody knows about it plus, it covers a circumference area, where a lot of people from different areas would come because they know about it. They go to the fair, they go to other events there.”

Roberson’s nonprofit has also held distributions at the MainPlace mall in Santa Ana but with the mall opening the hours of distribution have been cut down to 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The distributions at the mall will continue every other week.

“We’ll still continue at the mall but I just know that the load will be a smaller load because they’re opening which is what you want the mall to do because you’re looking at so many people losing out on their income,” Roberson said.

The nonprofit depends on donations to run their distributions that cost from $10,000 to $30,000 a weekend as well as their partnerships with local police departments, Northgate supermarket, the Orange County Food Bank and others.

The United Across Border Foundation is another one of the many groups around the county that holds a distribution and is dependent on donations to get the food needed.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization that takes food, school and medical supplies across the border to families in need. Half of the community service efforts are held in the U.S. and the other half in Mexico.

But since the pandemic the organization has put trips across the border on hold and are focusing on feeding the northern part of Orange County through weekly food distributions at the St. Philip Benizi Church in Fullerton on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The first distribution we did was about 1200 families,” said Olivia Casillas, Vice President of Operations of the United Across Borders Foundation. “And since then it ranges between, you 600 sometimes it’s 800 and it just varies.”

Casillas said that they have had to turn people away because their resources are not enough and that the organization is seeking out partnerships with other groups to get more food.

“We’re facing a little bit of problems because we don’t have enough food and I wish more resources were opened for nonprofits,” said Erika Robles, the founder and CEO of the United Across Borders Foundation.

Robles said she is unsure how people returning to work will affect the number of people going to the pantries to get free groceries.

Besides their weekly distribution, the organization has started the Feeding Heroes Project aimed at providing meals to medical workers at local hospitals. They also started the Feeding Field Workers projects intended to provide free groceries and lunches for farm workers in Irvine.

“Without them, we were not able to bring vegetables and fruits to our houses,” Robles said.

The Sikh Center of Orange County, a nonprofit religious organization in Santa Ana, has also been holding drive-through food distributions every other Saturday from about 9 a.m. to around 11 a.m. at the Gurdwara in Santa Ana. 

“Our long term goal with this is to make it a sustainable food pantry so that we could support our local community and build relationships with them,” said Bandana Singh, a spokesperson for the Sikh Center’s food pantry.

This week the center plans to feed 650-700 families with boxes of food that can last a week all from donations of groceries or money. Singh said the need for food is still there in the community.

“As things open up, as people go back to work like eventually I do think the need will flatten out to a lower number I just don’t know when that’s gonna be,” Singh said.

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

These include:

The Power of One Foundation

Saturday  8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at OC Fairgrounds

88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

United Across Borders Foundation

Saturday June 13 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the 

235 S Pine Dr. Fullerton, CA 92833

Sikh Center of Orange County

Saturday June 13, 27  9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Gurdwara

2514 W Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704

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

Thursday 3:00-4:00 p.m. 

601 E Valencia Dr, Fullerton, CA 92832

Saturday 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center

2271 Crescent Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801

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

Monday, Thursday 2-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Friday 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

1515 West North Street Anaheim, CA 92801

Or

Wednesday 1-3 p.m.

10200 Pioneer Road Tustin, CA 92782

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.

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC Reporting Fellow. Contact him @[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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SUBTOPICS:
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  • Emergencies & Disasters
  • Health & Wellness
  • Top Stories
  • drive through food pantry
  • Healthy Communities
  • OC Fairgrounds
  • Orange County Coronavirus
  • Orange County Food Insecurity
  • The Power of One Foundation

RELATED STORIES:

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

    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.

  • Pantries Increase Efforts to Feed County While Facing Challenges 

    In partnership with the City of Anaheim, Vineyard Anaheim Church will host a mobile food pantry at Brookhurst Community Center from 1-3 p.m on Saturday

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