Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles is a multi-service Agency whose goals are to strengthen and preserve individual, family and community life by providing a wide range of needed human services to people in the community at every stage of the life cycle, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged. The agency is guided by ethical and spiritual values of Judaism in its provision of services.
The JFS { SOVA Community Food & Resource Program responds to hunger in our community by providing individuals and families with the resources they need to regain self-sufficiency and independence, including free groceries, case management, counseling, and other supportive services, such as legal counseling and job search assistance at SOVA's two comprehensive service centers in the Los Angeles area.
Free nutritious food nourishes families, helps children perform better in school, and strengthens the elderly. Every family is allowed to come to SOVA once each calendar month for an emergency 5-day supply of food.
The Resource Center may be able to provide referrals about other programs and services including medical and health services, utility bill assistance, housing and shelters, and child care and family services.
Each pantry schedules professionals who provide:
Food Stamp (CalFresh) & Medi-Cal Enrollment – Employees from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) are available in our pantries 1-2 times each week to assist you in getting the government benefits to which you may be qualified.
Legal Counseling – Skilled legal professionals from Bet Tzedek are in our pantry sites providing free assistance with a wide range of legal questions and problems. (Advance appointment required)
Job Counseling – If you need assistance finding employment, writing a resumé, or developing your interviewing skills, experienced counselors from Jewish Vocational Services are at each pantry weekly to assist you.
Documents Required:
Official photo identification of each adult family member and birth certificates for all children
Proof that you reside within our service area
On your first visit, please arrive by the time the pantry first opens in the morning in order to register as a new participant and receive the complete program orientation.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- nutrition education
- diapers & formula
- personal care items
- counseling
- help fill out forms
- support network
- one-on-one support
- help find work
- advocacy & legal aid
- personal care items
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (877) 275-4537 to book your appointment.
Address :
8846 W Pico Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90035.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: 10:00 AM - 01:30 PM T:
Help Residents of Counties:
- Los Angeles
- Orange
Appointments
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7.
For the full set of services, you can call (877) 275-4537 to book your appointment. Staff can also answer any questions you may have.
Food Pantry in Near By City
- Alhambra
- Aliso Viejo
- Altadena
- Anaheim
- Arcadia
- Artesia
- Baldwin Park
- Bell
- Bell Gardens
- Bellflower
- Beverly Hills
- Brea
- Buena Park
- Burbank
- Carson
- Cerritos
- Compton
- Costa Mesa
- Culver City
- Cypress
- Downey
- El Monte
- El Segundo
- Fountain Valley
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Gardena
- Glendale
- Hacienda Heights
- Hawaiian Gardens
- Hawthorne
- Hermosa Beach
- Huntington Beach
- Huntington Park
- Inglewood
- Irvine
- La Habra
- La Mirada
- La Palma
- La Puente
- Lakewood
- Lawndale
- Lomita
- Long Beach
- Los Alamitos
- Los Angeles
- Lynwood
- Manhattan Beach
- Maywood
- Midway City
- Monrovia
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- Newport Beach
- Norwalk
- Paramount
- Pasadena
- Pico Rivera
- Placentia
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Redondo Beach
- Rosemead
- Rowland Heights
- San Gabriel
- San Marino
- Santa Ana
- Santa Fe Springs
- Santa Monica
- Seal Beach
- Sierra Madre
- Signal Hill
- South El Monte
- South Gate
- South Pasadena
- Stanton
- Temple City
- Topanga
- Torrance
- Tustin
- Villa Park
- Walnut
- West Covina
- West Hollywood
- Westminster
- Whittier
- Yorba Linda
Food Pantry in Near By County
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.