From Hunger to Hope: We Help

Food insecurity and access to basic needs

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Food insecurity critically affects LB. In 2022, 13.8% of residents lived below poverty level, higher than the CA average of 12.2%. This translates to thousands of families struggling to access nutritious meals regularly.
The impact is particularly severe on children, with 24.2% living in poverty, potentially facing developmental challenges due to malnutrition. Seniors, comprising 14.4% of those in poverty, often face difficult choices between food and other necessities like medication.
From 2019 to 2022, We Help saw demand for our services quadruple, growing from serving 19,000 to 80,000+ yearly. This sharp increase reflects the compounding effects of the pandemic, inflation, and economic instability on our community's most vulnerable members.
Addressing hunger is crucial now to prevent long-term health consequences and support educational outcomes. By providing immediate food assistance, we can help break the cycle of poverty and create a foundation for broader societal improvement.

We Help proposes to expand our food distribution model by partnering with 3-5 Black churches in underserved areas of Long Beach and surrounding communities. This initiative will address food insecurity while promoting community engagement.
Key activities include:
Establishing satellite food distribution centers at partner churches, operating on designated Saturdays monthly.
Implementing a volunteer program, engaging local youth to foster community service.
Expanding our food sourcing network to meet increased demand.
Developing culturally appropriate food packages for diverse needs.
Our approach is unique in its focus on community-driven solutions. By partnering with trusted local institutions, we tap into existing networks, ensuring our services reach those most in need. This model promotes community ownership and sustainability.
This initiative addresses immediate hunger and builds community resilience. By engaging youth volunteers, we're fostering a culture of service with long-lasting impacts.
Our approach combats hunger holistically, nourishing bodies, building community ties, and empowering individuals. We aim to increase our reach from 80,000 to 100,000 individuals yearly, significantly reducing food insecurity in our target areas.
Through efficient resource management and strong partnerships, we'll create a compassionate environment where individuals are valued and empowered. This expansion will allow us to transform more lives, fostering hope one meal at a time.

If successful, our work will significantly reduce food insecurity in LB and surrounding areas, creating a ripple effect across LA County. In the short term (2024-2025), we'll increase our reach by 25%, serving 100,000 individuals annually. This expansion will alleviate immediate hunger for thousands, improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity stress for the vulnerable.
Long-term, our community-driven model will foster a culture of mutual support and volunteerism, particularly among youth. This will lead to stronger communities capable of addressing local challenges collaboratively.
Our success will demonstrate a scalable model for community-based food distribution. We envision expanding to 10-15 partner churches across LA County within five years, potentially reaching 250,000 individuals annually.
By reducing hunger, we'll contribute to improved educational outcomes & better health. This holistic impact will help break the cycle of poverty, creating a thriving LA County.

We measure our impact through key metrics:
Individuals served: Growing from 19,000 in 2019 to 80,000+ in 2023.
Food distribution volume: Tracking total weight by type (produce, dairy, meat).
Geographic reach: Expanded from Long Beach to Compton and parts of LA.
Volunteer engagement: 17,464 volunteer hours logged in 2023.
Cost-efficiency: Serving a $5 meal for $0.20 direct cost.
Qualitative feedback highlights the dignity and hope we provide. One client shared, "We Help doesn't just fill stomachs; it fills hearts with hope."
Our evidence of success includes:
4x reach in 4 years
Expanded to 3 official subsite churches
Increased distribution from 2x to 11x monthly
By 2025, we aim to serve 100,000 individuals yearly through 5-7 church partnerships. Long-term, we plan to reach 250,000 across LA County within five years, establishing 10-15 partnerships.
This expansion will significantly reduce food insecurity demonstrating an efficient model for addressing hunger in diverse communities.