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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Westside Food Bank's 36th Annual 5K Hunger Walk

Get ready for a fun afternoon by the beach for a great cause! Join Westside Food Bank’s 36th Annual 5K Hunger Walk on Sunday, November 1 at Ocean View Park (2701 Barnard Way) in Santa Monica.  Whether you walk, run, or stroll with your kids and dog, every step you take helps feed local families in need who rely on WSFB's services.

Here’s what’s in store:

• Free T-Shirt & Swag Bag for every registered participant
• 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM:Check-in, Family Fun Zone, entertainment, fitness warm-ups, and flu/COVID vaccines via Vons Immunization Clinic (bring ID and insurance info)
• Raffle Prizes: Win luxury hotel stays, restaurant dining, and local gift cards (raffle tickets will be sold on site)
• 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Scenic 5K coastal walk along Santa Monica Beach path

Walk solo or register a team with your friends, company or community group. Joining the event is free, but registration is required to reserve your official event T-shirt. 

St. Monica has a team and would love for parishioners to join us on November 1. Sign up to walk or donate: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/hungerwalk26/team/1052479/

There is even more:

• Shake Shack will have a tent providing lemonade and a spin-the-wheel to win prizes
• GoodRx will have a tent sharing information and additional little swag bags
• My Gym will have a tent and provide some fun for the younger kids
• Sandy Days Kids Camp will have a tent with some arts and crafts
• The SMC Men's and Women's Volleyball teams will have players there to do some demonstrations
• A small music ensemble Fivemind Reeds will be interacting with our walkers and playing snippets of classical music
• The raffle will have great prizes to win including hotel stays at Shutters and Petit Hermitage to gift cards to Target, Susie Cakes, Salt & Straw, there will be Petersen Automotive Museum tickets, yoga sessions and more

If you have questions contact Delis at

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:

SECOND SUNDAYS! We also accept clothing items for the St. Robert Center. More information here. 

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

• 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 bring donations to the Parish Reception area during opffice hours.

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. For more info  visit https://stmonica.net/serve/locally/helping-the-homeless

Second Sunday Coffee and Donuts

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