West Valley Food Pantry (Prince of Peace Episcopal Church)

The West Valley Food Pantry is a coalition of eleven congregations located in the west San Fernando Valley providing emergency food to the needy and homeless in the area. It was founded in 1985 to make sure that the hungry, working poor and the homeless in the West Valley have access to emergency food. Although one of the largest pantries in the valley it is operated by a small organization of volunteers who serve balanced food packages to over 800 needy clients each month at our facilities.

We operate 5 days a week (Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 3:00) and 10 to Noon on Friday. We are located in the kitchen of the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church at 5700 Rudnick Avenue in Woodland Hills (91367), a block north of Burbank Boulevard, and a block East of Shoup. We also assist the Family Rescue Center (Rescate) in Canoga Park at 22103 Vanowen Street.

We provide over 220,000 meals to over 24,000 people, and every effort is made to assure that these meals provide a balanced and nutritious diet. All regular clients must register and show evidence of residence between Reseda Boulevard on the east and Rinaldi Street at the north, west to the Ventura County line and south to Fernwood in Topanga Canyon. Clients receive a monthly food package and each package exceed 10 pounds; consisting of canned goods and non-perishables, balanced by fresh foods and are delivered at our cost of about 34¢ a pound. Albertson's, Ralph's, Trader Joe's, Pavilions, the LA Regional Foodbank, USDA, group collections and Food Drives (BSA, Businesses, Letter Carriers, Schools and others) are our sources.

Emergency food is available to anyone once a week under government requirements. Our registered clients receive a complete food package once a month. We also operate a "SENIORS" federally funded program from 9 to 11 am on the first Wednesday of the month. Seniors also registered as Pantry clients are also eligible for a regular Food Pantry package.

38% of our clients are the working poor or seniors on very limited income, 33% qualify for food stamps or are on Welfare, 19% have recent unemployment, and 10% are homeless or other. Our Volunteers serve about 2-1/2 hours, 1 day a month, purchase or take delivery of food shipments, stock shelves, validate client eligibility, maintain distribution records, occasionally shop for specials, buy and pick up food, as well as assist in the daily distribution.

Our meals cost from 24 to 40 cents depending upon contributions or about $81,000 of our budget, which is funded by contributions from congregations, service clubs, generous individuals, the National Charity League, and a FEMA grant. Operating and delivery costs are less than $4,000 (5%).

The West Valley Food Pantry is a coalition of eleven members founded by the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church. The following is a list of the 11 coalition members, the associated organizations and their contact information:

COALITION MEMBERS:

1) Canoga Park Presbyterian
email: office@cppc.org website: www.cppc.org
(818) 883-3510

2) Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church
email: office@emersonuuc.org website: www.emersonuuc.org
(818) 887-6101

3) First United Methodist Canoga Park
email: office@umccp.org website: www.umccp.org
(818) 340-2950

4) Prince of Peace Episcopal
email: office@popwh.org website: www.popwh.org
(818) 346-6968

5) Saint Luke's Lutheran
email: Office_saint_luke@sbcglobal.net website: www.stlukelutheran.com
(818) 346-3070

6) Saint Martin in the Fields Episcopal
email: info@st-martins.org website: www.st-martins.org
(818) 348-1419

7) Temple Kol Tikvah
email: execdir@koltikvah.org rabbioffel@koltikvah.org website: www.koltikvah.org
(818) 348-0670

8) Woodland Hills Methodist
email: deanschafer@dsl.extreme.com (until 2008)
(818) 346-6528 (KOREAN 346-1617)

9) Woodland Hills Christian
website: www.whcc-disciples.com
(818) 340-5613

10) Woodland Hills Community Church
email: whcc2000@aol.com website: www.whucc.org
(818) 346-0820

11) Woodland Hills Presbyterian
email: office@woodlandhillspres.org website: www.woodlandhillspres.org
(818) 346-7894

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS:

A) Family Rescue Center "Rescate"
email: Rescate1@pacbell.net website: www.rescatefamilycenter.org
(818) 884-7587

B) Valley Interfaith Council (VIC)
email: nbevins@vic-la.org website: www.vic-la.org
(818) 718-6460 Cambria Smith x3011

C) West Valley Food Pantry (WVFP)
website: popwh.org/newpop/min_food_pantry.html
Directory of Churches: www.churchangel.com
(818) 346-5554 FAX: 818)346-3349