Laguna Food Pantry Remains Open Amid Coronavirus Shutdown

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Food Pantry workers are still organizing donations, filling bags and boxes, and preparing to donate food to those suffering food insecurity amid coronavirus.

On Sunday Gov. Gavin Newsom initiated a three-week stay safer-at-home initiative. With many workers furloughed across the southland following that initiative, those at the Laguna Food Pantry have reported for duty.

"Laguna Food Pantry is an essential business and exempt from closing," they said Monday over Twitter.

Visitors who need essential grocery items can visit the Laguna Food Pantry for free, fresh and nutritious groceries Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

According to the Laguna Food Pantry Executive Director, Anne Belyea, donations of food and money go a long way to feeding the almost 200 food pantry customers a day.

"We provide milk, eggs, produce, meat, shelf-stable items for our customers, about 50 pounds of groceries per family, a week," Belyea says. "All of them are South County families."

At the Laguna Food Pantry, things work differently in the time of coronavirus. Volunteers pack boxes and bags for shoppers and distribute them in the parking lot in a drive-thru service.

"Anyone is welcome," Belyea says. "We ask that they come once a week to serve more people."

The pantry relies on volunteers and monetary donations to buy food and food received from Second Harvest and Orange County Food Banks.

Donations go toward buying from local food distributors and grocery stores. In 2020, they've helped distribute over 400,000 pounds of rescued food.

In Laguna Beach and across Orange County, Belyea sees a growing need for food banks, especially among people who never imagined finding themselves at a food pantry.

The pantry always accepts donations of money, time or food, they say.

Right now they need clean, sturdy bags for seniors and vets.

"If you have any clean, sturdy, cloth totes or heavy-duty plastic bags, please consider donating them to the Pantry. You can easily drop them off at the Pantry anytime Monday - Friday between 8 - 10:30 a.m.

They are located at: 20652 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Find them online at: lagunafoodpantry.org

Read how one Laguna Beach family, Mick and Sharon Donoff, turned gratefulness into an attitude of gratitude with a planned a food drive!

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.