Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Albertsons Companies, Inc., and in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, hundreds of families in our community experienced a moment of relief, dignity, and hope when they needed it most. This support made it possible to provide additional assistance to clients who receive CalFresh benefits, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps individuals and families with low incomes put food on the table.

In January, the West Valley Food Pantry was honored to be selected as a distribution hub for this special initiative. Through this program, we distributed 500 grocery gift cards, each valued at $100, directly to families facing food insecurity. Families of four or more received two gift cards. By the end of the month, the cards had been distributed, reaching 404 households and supporting 960 individuals.

The impact of this program went far beyond numbers.

We heard deeply moving stories from clients whose lives were changed in that moment. One client shared that he was down to his very last $1.49 and had no idea how he would afford food for the remainder of the month. Another client, a mother of four young children, broke down in tears when she learned she would receive a gift card. She explained that she had only $28 left in her bank account and was carefully rationing gas just to make it through the week. She told our staff that her prayers had been answered and that receiving the card felt like Christmas in January.

Before leaving, she embraced one of our staff members, both of them crying together in that shared moment of relief and gratitude. That staff member later reflected, “At the West Valley Food Pantry, we don’t just feed people—we feed souls.” It’s a sentiment that perfectly captures the heart of our mission and the compassion behind every interaction we have with our clients.

Moments like these remind us why this work matters and how powerful community support can be. We are profoundly grateful to Albertsons Companies, Inc., and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for helping us bring comfort, stability, and hope to so many families in our community.