A Season of Renewal & Resolve

March brings longer days, warmer afternoons, and the first real signs of spring. There’s a sense of forward motion this time of year, a reminder that growth and renewal are possible. At the pantry, that same spirit fuels our work.

Across Los Angeles County, many families are still feeling the strain of high housing costs, rising grocery prices, and wages that have not kept pace with the cost of living. Nearly one in four households continues to experience food insecurity. For parents, seniors, and working neighbors who are doing everything they can, that gap is real.

Spring invites us to step into action with fresh energy. It is a season to roll up our sleeves, strengthen our partnerships, and show up for our community with empathy and purpose. With your support, we continue to meet the need head on, making sure that as the weather warms, hope and stability grow right alongside it.

There is work to do, and we are ready for it together.

EVERY GIFT MATTERS. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY!

Students Score Big for Neighbors in Need

with SOUP-er Bowl Food Drives

Students at Laurence School and Campbell Hall recently turned Super Bowl excitement into meaningful service through food drives supporting the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry.

At Laurence School, the annual Laurence SOUP-er Bowl was organized and run by the 3rd grade students. The entire school “voted” for their favorite football team by donating cans of soup or chili, with each can counting toward a team’s total. By the end of the drive, the Laurence community donated more than 1,000 cans to help stock the pantry for neighbors in need. The Seahawks came out on top in the friendly competition!

At Campbell Hall, a Super Bowl-themed drive was organized entirely by student members of the high school's Club on Homelessness. Their efforts resulted in an impressive collection of hundreds of pounds of food for the pantry, including pasta, rice, beans... plus plenty of soup! The Seahawks also claimed the win in Campbell Hall’s competition.

We are grateful to both school communities for their continued support of the food pantry and especially proud of the students who led these efforts. Their initiative and generosity show how young people can help build a strong culture of empathy and service.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD

Bernard was on duty, and so were we!

On a recent Friday morning, as we were handing out bags, Bernard turned the corner and began rolling down Moorpark toward our pantry. The delivery robot was definitely amusing and paused for quite a while as our volunteers distributed food bags to clients. I had to laugh at the contrast between the way the robot delivered needed goods and the way we served our grateful, food-insecure neighbors.

Distribution has been challenging this past month. We are seeing more and more people coming for food, which means constant packing on distribution days and additional packing on Wednesdays, along with our regular efforts in the TBH basement. Our clients are facing ever-increasing rent, rising health insurance costs, and ongoing monthly financial pressures. We are now averaging 300 bags per distribution day, up from 260 in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The good news is that we are meeting these challenges because we have the resources to help those in our community who are food insecure, thanks to supporters like you. In a world that can feel unsettled and overwhelming, supporting the pantry is one way to create positive change. Whether you help offset the cost of food, which now runs about $5,500 or more per distribution day, volunteer to pack bags or serve clients, or prepare bagged lunches, your contribution makes a difference. Everything we do is a labor of love rooted in hope.

Bernard the delivery robot serves a purpose, but he has a microchip. We have hearts that guide our work and care for those who need a hand. Together, we are agents of change for the better.

Blessings,

Jane G. Poole

Food For Thought: Interviews with Rabbi Sarah Hronsky & Reverend Dr. Louise Goben

Two important interviews this month highlight the power of interfaith partnership in addressing hunger. Rabbi Sarah Hronsky shares her perspective on cooperation and social justice in this important conversation on Vocal. Check out her interview here!

Rev. Dr. Louise Goben reflects on dignity, the Golden Rule, and the impact of food pantry partnerships. Click here to read her interview!

We are currently distributing more than 600 bags of groceries every single week. That's a lot of bags... and it takes a village to make it happen! Click here to join our volunteer team.

Join our Transport Team on Fridays at 4:00 PM at Temple Beth Hillel and help us make a difference for our neighbors in need.

FOOD ASKS OF THE MONTH

This month, we are especially in need of DRY CAT FOOD and WET DOG FOOD.

March Donation Request:

CANNED FRUIT & HEALTHY SNACKS!

Thank You, Boy Scouts!

We are grateful to the Boy Scouts for their continued support of the pantry through their annual food drive. This year, the Scouts collected, sorted, and shelved more than 2,000 pounds of donated food, an actual TON of groceries that will help stock our shelves and support families in our community.

Beyond collecting donations, the Scouts rolled up their sleeves and worked side by side to organize everything for distribution. With teamwork front and center, they sorted and shelved each item with care. Their focus, cooperation, and willingness to serve made a real difference, and we are thankful for their commitment to helping neighbors in need.

Looking for more ways to help? You can support the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry by donating our most needed items through our Amazon wishlist. This easy, direct way to give helps keep pantry shelves stocked with essentials families rely on every day. Every item sent makes an immediate impact and helps ensure our community members get the support they need.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

NHIFP DISTRIBUTION

11634 Moorpark Street, Studio City

(1/2 block east of Colfax)

Mondays and Fridays between 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM

TEMPLE BETH HILLEL

12326 Riverside Drive, Valley Village

(enter off Laurelgrove)

Mondays and Fridays between 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

GOT EXTRA GROCERY BAGS?

If you’ve got gently used paper or plastic bags taking up space in your pantry, we’d love to give them a second life! Drop them at our distribution site Mondays and Fridays between 7:30 AM and 11:00AM —we’ll put them to good use!

Plastic bags are especially appreciated.