Contact: Delis Alejandro  | 310-566-1530  | 

St. Monica is still teaming up with Westside Food Bank every second Sunday of the month to fight hunger and food insecurity with our monthly Loaves and Fishes Food Drives.  Westside Food Bank is a great community organization that provides food to individuals and to over 70 local agencies that serve people in need.  Help us keep pantries filled with nutritious food for individuals and families.

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Food Insecurity is Real!

 We have been reminded by the Westside Food Bank that there is still tremendous need for food locally. Local households are struggling to make ends meet with inflation increasing the costs for food and other basic needs as pandemic emergency relief programs have come to a close. Families struggle to provide meals for their children during the school year, especially on weekends. 31% of children in Westside Food Bank's service area live in low-income, working families that spend more than 70% of their income on housing.

This is how you can help:

By supporting our monthly Food Drive the Second Sunday of every month. Our next Food Drive is Sunday, November 12 . All donated food is delivered to the Westside Food Bank the following Monday.

• Every Second Sunday of the Month)
  Donate these requested non-perishable items: 

-Cereal (hot or cold)
-Juice
-Pasta

-Pasta sauce (in plastic jars)
-Snack bars (granola or protein)

The Westside Food Bank has specifically requested these items because they are difficult or more expensive to buy in bulk.

Other food items welcome:

-Canned fruit, vegetables, meats and seafoods

-Canned soups and stews

-Canned beans

-Peanut butter and Jelly

-Rice

-Packaged seeds and nuts

Bring your donations from 7 a.m. to Noon to the Grand Pavilion patio. You can also look for our blue, yellow & white donation boxes on the parish plant or bring them to the Parish Reception area!

Make sure donated food items are not expired, past “use by” or “sell by” date.

You Can Also Donate Online!

 During the COVID lockdown, when we were unable to donate in-kind food donations, St. Monica, in collaboration with the Westside Food Bank, created an online link where parishioners could direct donations to the Food Bank.   Since that time, St. Monica parishioners have donated approximately $12, 231.00.  With every donated dollar, the Westside food bank can provide someone in need with enough food for four hearty meals. Donate online at  Westside Food Bank: St. Monica Loaves & Fishes  

Volunteer at a Free Meal Site

St. Monica regularly serves at two free meal sites,  St. Francis Center on Skid Row and St. Robert Center in Venice. Volunteer to help prepare and serve a meal at one of these sites on November 4. 30 volunteers needed! For more info on both sites, visit https://stmonica.net/serve/locally/helping-the-homeless

Westside Food Bank Walk

Sunday, November 5

Ocean View Park

Join Team St. Monica as we walk in the Westside Foodbank Walk on November 5 to raise awareness about food insecurity in LA County. Every $1 raised provides 4 meals for our neighbors in need. If you can’t be a walker, consider donating.

The Walk begins and ends at Ocean View Park, located at 2701 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, California, 90405.

Agenda

Check-in begins: 12 p.m.
Pre-walk festivities: 1 p.m.
5K walk starts: 2 p.m.
Beach Bash After-Party: 3:30 p.m.

To register to be part of Team St. Monica or to donate towards our Team St. Monica fundraising visit https://my.wsfb.org/stmonica    

All participants walk for free, receive a free t-shirt/swag bag, and are treated to a pre-event program at Ocean View Park. All attendees need to register so they can check in at the event. 

This year’s team is led by Delis Alejandro and Dennis Hardwick. Our plan is to meet up with Team St. Monica at the parish to carpool and meet up at Ocean View Park.

If you have any questions about Team St. Monica contact Delis at

The general link for the Hunger Walk is wsfb.org/hungerwalk.

Loaves and Fishes Team and Volunteers

The Loaves and Fishes Food Drive Team meets regularly to plan how we at St. Monica can help fight food insecurity locally. If you would like to be part of the team, please contact Delis at

To get the word out on food insecurity and receive the Second Sunday of the month food donations the Loaves and Fishes Team hosts Coffee and Donuts on those Sundays in the morning. Volunteers are needed to set up and pick up donuts at 7am. Volunteers are then needed to serve coffee, distribute donuts and staff our Loaves and Fishes Ministry table. If you are an early riser, love smiling a lot and want to fight hunger locally contact Delis at