Tortillas, ramen broth, jambalaya rice and beans are just some of the cultural foods scattered throughout the shelves of South County Outreach, a hunger and homelessness prevention organization based in Irvine.
Its array of ethnic foods provide new and familiar ingredients for those needing help to make ends meet. Although having diverse foods isn’t the first priority of clients, trying to make those cultural foods available is important, said the leaders in addressing hunger in Orange County.
And the community appreciates the options when available.
“That’s the food you’re raised on and that’s the food you’re familiar with and that’s the food that also connects us to our families and stuff, so it’s nice that they take that into consideration,” said Maria Lopez, a 46-year-old woman from Lake Forest, who was recently visiting South County Outreach’s food pantry.
LaVal Brewer, president and CEO of South County Outreach, said there had been an expectation that fewer people would need assistance after the pandemic, however, current research shows that even more people are facing food insecurity in California.
In Orange County, almost 300,000 people don’t always know where they will get their next meal from, according surveys by the Orange County United Way. The county’s food insecurity rate is projected to be almost 14% this year; in 2018, it was 8.5%, according to the Orange County Hunger Alliance. Additionally, people of color, specifically Black and Latino households, are being disproportionately affected by food insecurity.
Several organizations said they try to take a multicultural approach to supporting Orange County’s diverse population.
Kelly Alesi, director of sourcing, logistics and sustainability at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, said centering inclusivity in the organization’s mission ensures that everyone can voice what they want to eat and have a dignified experience at a food bank or food…
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