Pasadena Organizations Collaborate on Farmers to Families Food Program

Local organizations on Wednesday announced they would be collaborating to distribute food to local residents later this week.

The boxed food will be distributed at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Assembly Church of God in Christ, 55 E. Villa St., Pasadena.

The church is teaming with Friends of the Miracle Mile and the Pasadena Community Coalition to provide food on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We are blessed to be able to provide this high-quality fresh food for distribution to families in need during this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bishop Christopher E. Milton of Holy Assembly Church of God in Christ, who secured the USDA Farmers to Families program.

“This will be our second month of giving this critical support to families in the area who are challenged to provide nutritious meals for their children,” Milton said.

“This is a socially distanced, no-contact drive-through event,” said Martin Gordon of the Pasadena Community Coalition. “We want to make sure everyone stays safe and we’ll be providing Black Lives Matter masks to the first 100 people who visit the church location.”

The California Association of Food Banks’ Farm to Family program works with farmers and ranchers to get state farm produce from the field to food banks across California.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website, the products can be donated outright to the association or they can work with Farm to Family to get a reimbursement that helps cover some costs.

Food recipients get nutritious vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy, eggs, and meat. Food banks get a variety of healthful products delivered regularly, and farmers have a reliable destination for excess products.

The no-contact, drive-through event will comply with social distancing guidelines.

Presently, 20 food banks and pantries operate in Pasadena to provide food to residents experiencing food insecurity. The city has provided funding totaling $245,807 to support the operations of 10 programs from May through October.