CREATEStreamlining Food Distribution
By sorting different types of food into color coded bags, such as breads, meats, vegetables, etc.; volunteers can ensure that each basket contains one bag of each color during distribution.
The use of an electronic registration system that provides individual barcode identification cards significantly shortens the registration time and ensures accurate record of the number of people served. Once a client has registered and issued a personal identification card, the next time they visit, the card gets scanned, and they are ready to receive food.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Income inequality
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
San Gabriel Valley
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
As food prices continue to rise and individuals lose their jobs, we have seen an increased number of people coming to our food distribution. To better serve our community members, we are looking for effective ways to expedite the registration and the distribution process. We are serving over 2,000 individuals in a three-hour period every other week. Additionally, our area of service has received a significant number of immigrants who come to our food bank.
As a non-profit organization, we depend solely on fundraisers, donations and grants. As the number of clients increases, our expenses also increase.
Our local school districts deal with a significant number of homeless students and their families. We have been able to provide these families with "food only" cards that are used at Walmart to purchase food in between distributions.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
The grant will allow us to be able to continue purchasing the colored plastic bags used to identify the different types of food being distributed as well as the paper bags used for non-perishable foods.
Part of the funds will be used for Operations expenses such as fuel, maintenance, insurance and registration of the truck and van used to pick up the food. To maintain our industrial freezers and to replace the old ones. It will provide funds to replace the shopping carts that are breaking down from all the use.
The funds will also allow us the opportunity to continue providing the homeless students and their families with "food only" cards they can use at Walmart to purchase food as well as hygiene kits, detergent and other items that they so desperately need.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
If we can make a difference in the life of one family, we have accomplished our mission. We are making a difference in the life of 2,000 individuals every two weeks. We might not be able to feed everybody, but we are helping one individual, one home, one city at a time. We are making a difference in the lives of the citizens of the East San Gabriel Valley. Our area of service expands from downtown Los Angeles to Pomona on the West, from Azusa and Glendora on the North to Hacienda and Rowland Heights on the South. We are also serving citizens from Montebello, Pico Rivera.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 48,000
Indirect Impact: 96,000