FCCNH is one of 10 Jewish and Christian congregations who comprise the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry. Volunteers from FCCNH participate in the process of gathering and distributing the food. The Pantry has provided emergency food assistance to several hundred families each week since 1983. Food bags are distributed each Monday and Friday morning from the Pantry's office at First Christian Church.

Food is collected by congregations, individuals, schools and community organizations. Some free or low cost food is obtained from the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, but a large percentage of the food needed to fill bags for approximately 400 families per week must be purchased: for this the Pantry depends on donations from individuals, private or public groups and foundations.

Staff

Essentially an all-volunteer operation, the only paid staff are part-time guards who work on the Monday and Friday distribution mornings, handling parking and crowd control. More than 150 volunteers do hand-on work to keep thge Pantry operating. Volunteers also staff the HelpLine referral service.

InterFaith Help-Line
818-980-1657
Mondays & Fridays, 10 am - 1 pm
To volunteer for HelpLine or for more information, 818-980-1657

How Can You Help?

Volunteers are needed to:

• work in Pantry, Monday of Friday mornings
• help unload truck at Pantry, Friday mornings
• shelve heavy canned goods
• pack bags at Temple Beth Hilel (hours/days flexible)
• move bags from Temple to Pantry, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays
• pick up donated bread from markets, mornings
• serve on committees such as food purchasing, budget, HelpLine, etc.

Pantry Wish List:

• baby foods
• peanut butter
• canned fruit, vegetables, tuna, tomato sauce, etc. (no glass containers)
• cereals, pasta
• powdered milk
• can openers
• poptop cans for homeless
• soap, toothpaste, disposable razors, personal care items

To join a volunteer team or make a donation of food or money, contact the FCCNH office via e-mail or call 818-763-8218.

Background

Thge North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, Inc., a non-profit, nonsectarian agency which since 1964 has worked to help feed the hungry and needy, provide services to seniors and their families, and build bridges of understanding throughout our diverse and unique San Fernando Valley Community.

The Interfaith Food Pantry was founded by five women from different religious congregations and opened on March 13, 1983 in a Sunday School room at First Christian Church of North Hollywood. Temple Beth Hillel provided space for food storage. Bags of staple foods are distributed two mornings a week, 52 weeks a year. Applicants for food need not be members of any religious organization.