As food prices soar across the country and food banks report a surge of first-time visitors, L.A. Controller Ron Galperin has released a new statewide map of free food resources available to Californians.
The only resource of its kind in California, Galperin’s map at https://tinyurl.com/39vxm567, shows more than 1,400 food banks, food pantries, emergency distribution centers and other community resources providing free access to food across the Golden State.
“Families up and down our state are worried about how to put food on the table as prices for food, gas and other necessities spiral out of reach,” said Galperin. “The economic pain of the pandemic, along with skyrocketing inflation and the high cost of living throughout our state is breaking the bank for many Californians who are already on the brink of poverty. This map connects residents to critical food resources in every single California county so that anyone in need of assistance can find free, nutritious food.”
All Californians can find resources by typing their address into the search bar and choosing a search radius, or by clicking on a location near them on the map. Each dot on the map indicates the location of a separate resource site. Users can click on a dot to view additional information including the name, address and contact information.
Galperin recommends that anyone seeking assistance contact prospective sites before visiting to confirm hours and eligibility. Some locations may request that community members bring photo identification or other supporting documents when they visit.
Galperin has made issues related to food access a priority since the pandemic upended life in California. In addition to mapping free food resources statewide, his Hunger for Solutions to Food Insecurity story map explores the issue in depth — highlighting a problem that has plagued L.A. for decades and calling for new policy solutions to address the crisis.
