Many members in our community, like others in communities all over the country, are experiencing a sudden emergency food insecurity crisis.

OC Mom Collective believes in networks of care, connection, and in the kind of community that especially protects and provides for all children. 

We’ve gathered some helpful information for those who are in need of food assistance and for those who have the means to help others. If you can donate to local food pantries, please consider providing cash over canned goods. Most assistance programs are overwhelmed on a good day, and a monetary donation goes a lot further without adding more strain on limited resources. However, if your neighbors and friends have held food drives, that is a beautiful and impactful gift. Thank you for looking out for our families. No donation or provision is unwanted.

If you have been impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits, you can find more information at usa.gov.

From their website:

• Call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you with finding food in an emergency.
• Call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Information is available in English and Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Use HUD’s Find Shelter tool to enter your zip code and find your closest food pantry.
• Contact community or religious organizations to find a local food bank or food pantry.
• Get emergency food stamps after experiencing a presidentially declared disaster through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).

OC Food Help has an extensive list of local food pantries that can be searched by zip code or by map.

Second Harvest Food Bank is a large regional food bank. Their site says, “We provide food for all who need it with a concentrated focus on our most vulnerable populations—children, working families, college students, and seniors.” You can donate money or food items. Visit this page to learn more.

There is no qualification necessary to receive food from Second Harvest Food Bank. If you need to find food, visit this page.

The OC Food Bank, “a program of Community Action Partnership of Orange County, unites communities to end hunger and malnutrition by partnering with 230 local charities, soup kitchens, and community organizations.” They include an extensive list of resources for those looking for assistance here.

There is no shame in asking for or receiving help in new ways right now. If your family has been impacted by this crisis, please use the resources available to you. You are so important, and no one deserves food insecurity.

If there is another local organization or location you have found to be helpful, please let us know in the comments, and we’ll add it to the article.