Hollywood Food Coalition

We are a group of UCLA medical, public health, and undergraduate students who have had the distinct honor of working alongside the Hollywood Food Coalition (HFC) in a relationship that's spanned two decades.

Over the years, we have become close friends and comrades with the incredible individuals who give their entire selves to the mission of feeding and serving the immediate needs of the hungry in Hollywood 365 days of the year. They have served millions of hot meals to our community since 1987 and have continued to open their doors daily throughout this pandemic.


The urgency to ensure reliable access to food prior to the COVID-19 pandemic is only increasing. Per HFC's Executive Director, the number of peoples served increased threefold in a matter of days as more individuals became reliant on community kitchens just as smaller pantries were forced to close. This community organization is essential now more than ever and we feel compelled to act to support our neighbors in this critical time of need.

More than increased numbers, the pandemic has provided new challenges to the day-to-day functioning of HFC:

- Food supply-chain disruptions, and access to product
- Distributing meals in ways that maintain the health and safety of all involved
- Ensuring clients have access to personal prevention measures that are necessary to fight the spread of the virus
- Access to enough volunteers

Here's how you can help:

We seek to collect public donations to support our long-time comrades as they serve our community in these unprecedented times with:

- Hearty to-go snacks and fridgeless breakfasts and lunches to pack with clients' hot meals, tying them over as long as possible to minimize the number of times they must venture out for food
- Bags and containers to safely pack and distribute hot meals as HFC converts from a dine-in to a pick-up only food service
- Materials to construct cloth masks as required by the city for our clients who do not have the same ability to self-isolate or acquire fitted, clean face coverings
- Hand sanitizer and hygiene kits (travel-sized soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and bottled water) to include with to-go meals as access to public toilets, handwashing stations, and showers becomes increasingly limited

If you are in a position to contribute and you have the means to take action, we hope you will donate today.  No dollar amount is too small. 

100% of donations will go directly to Hollywood Food Coalition in coordinating, mobilizing, and distributing meals and critical health supplies to those impacted by COVID-19.  

We believe it is critical, now more than ever, to the health & well-being of our vulnerable clients that we continue to push forward in our mission of feeding and serving the immediate needs of the hungry.

HFC's mission states: "By sharing a hot, delicious meal we remind those we serve that they are not forgotten, that somebody cares, and that they are still worthwhile members of the human family."

The need is great and nobody should be without food and protection from this pandemic. We deeply appreciate your donation!

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If you are in Los Angeles, we are in great need of hand sanitizer (especially in bulk) as it is sold out both in stores and online. Please email [email redacted] if you have hand sanitizer that you would like to donate.

If you feel compelled to sign up to prep or serve meals with HFC during this time, you may sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044cadab2ba5f85-test1.  

Please consider joining me in making a difference during this difficult time. I'm raising money to benefit the Hollywood Food Coalition  where I have been a volunteer since I was in third grade. The coalition has served over 1,500,000 meals to the most marginalized members of our community since 1987, and they are more determined than ever to continue to serve nutritious nightly meals to those who are most vulnerable at this time.

Because of the threat of COVID-19, HFC has changed its operation to provide meals in a to-go format. Lots of additional supplies are necessary to support this change: to-go containers, bags, wipes, forks, napkins, gloves, bleach, cleaning supplies, food items including dry pasta, lentils and rice. To protect their dedicated volunteers, they are also in need of protective items including masks and hand sanitizers.

Any donation will help make an impact and ensure that our less fortunate neighbors will continue to receive their nightly meals. No amount is too small. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me, the volunteers at the food line and, most important, the clients of the food coalition!