Laguna Food Pantry Meets Increased Food Insecurity With Joy

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—The Laguna Food Pantry has completely transformed itself to overcome each obstacle resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the warmth and kindness with which every visitor is met. And the cheerful camaraderie of the pantry’s legion of volunteers remains undiminished.

On March 16, 2020, the pantry, deemed an essential business, suddenly had to move operations from its quaint mom-and-pop grocery out into the parking lot. The new drive-through model prevented transmission of the virus, making everything safer for volunteers and the families they serve. But it also made it physically possible to meet the potentially overwhelming increase in demand brought about by the virus’ economic fallout.

Will the pantry ever return to the little store it once was?

“We will never go back,” says Anne Belyea, pantry executive director. “It’s safer, more efficient and can handle the demand.” Belyea admits everyone misses the human interactions of the old shop, but now pantry families are in and out of the lineup in about 5 minutes, as opposed to more than half an hour it once took, often struggling to shop while juggling baby carriers and shopping bags.

Today, those who arrive on foot or bicycle receive a “day bag,” likely packed with a sandwich, beverages and fruit. But 95 percent arrive in cars, and have full kitchens for cooking and cold storage, often shopping for 2 or 3 families at one time. Drivers pop their trunks, and volunteers load in boxes of nutritious foods and surprise treats: a windfall of Girl Scout cookies or fresh flowers from grocery stores.

Before COVID, pantry volunteers picked up food in their own vehicles from 7 stores; now 50 drivers are doing daily “food rescues” at 16 supermarkets. A delivery from the USDA Farmers to Families program may contain several pallets of stacked boxes, each maybe supplying onion, celery, apples, avocado and cabbage. Countless sources and sudden donations come to the Laguna Food Pantry from Second Harvest Food Bank, a kind of wholesaler for local pantries. Plus the pantry itself purchases milk and eggs to augment donations.

Where to store it all?

The answer to that question is: The Big Chill.

“It was a game changer,” says Belyea of the Polar King cooler.

Before it arrived last August, a concrete ramp and deck were poured. Belyea describes the day it was installed with considerable glee. The crane operator lifted the boxcar-sized refrigerator and set it down with precision, after it teetered precariously over the original shop.

Eggs and milk for up to 800 families a week are now rolled in and out with ease.

When OC Food Bank puts out word it has 240 boxes of frozen chicken legs and thighs, Laguna Pantry can answer, yes, we'll take it! Accepting such a windfall of quality protein would be impossible without the Big Chill.

Next up on the operational wish list is a permanent shade structure for the Big Chill; the storage area next to it; and the outside tables where food is sorted, boxed and loaded up. The construction application goes to the City of Laguna Beach next week.

Not only will the structure keep food, volunteers and shoppers out of the direct sun's heat, but it will eliminate the need for outside operations manager and volunteer Joe Fiedler to arrive at 6 a.m. every day to erect the tents, pop-ups and various shade cloths and awnings.

What can you do?

Anything from writing a check to donating shelf-stable goods, particularly canned proteins and breakfast cereal.

Also in great demand at the pantry are empty egg cartons and paper shopping bags with handles, which you may have accumulated from the shelter-in-place era of the pandemic.

Donated egg cartons will save the pantry from having to buy new ones at $.45 a pop.

Plus, if you deliver them yourself, you get a chance to soak up the warmth with which each visitor is greeted. And you'll have affirmed the pantry's mission: "We believe no one should go hungry."