HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES INC (EIN 20-5142259)

Program 1 [2020]
MARKET MATCH: HUNGER ACTION LA'S CHIEF PROGRAM IS MARKET MATCH, WHICH PROVIDES BONUS DOLLARS IN THE FORM OF COUPONS (REIMBURSABLE BY US TO THE FARMERS WHO ACCEPT THEM) FOR CALIFORNIA GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT PARTICIPATING FARMERS MARKETS. AS OF THE END OF 2020, THERE ARE 22 FARMERS MARKETS PARTICIPATING IN MARKET MATCH WITH HUNGER ACTION LA. THE MARKETS TRACK THE NUMBER OF COUPONS DISTRIBUTED AND SPENT AND THE AMOUNT IS REIMBURSED BY HUNGER ACTION LA TO THE FARMERS MARKET OPERATORS WHO IN TURN REIMBURSE THE FARMERS. THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS LARGELY FROM THE FEDERAL GUSNIP AND STATE CNIP GRANTS, WHICH ARE PROVIDED TO THE PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR THE ECOLOGY CENTER IN BERKELEY. HALA SUBCONTRACTS TO THE ECOLOGY CENTER AND RECEIVES MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THEM, AND PAYS MONTHLY CHECKS TO THE FARMERS MARKET OPERATORS (ADAMS VERMONT: THAI CDC: EASTMONT COMMUNITY CENTER: MAIN STREET MARKETPLACE: SOUTHLAND FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION: FM & LCE: PASADENA FARMERS MARKET: WELLINGTON SQUARE FARMERS MARKET: PROVIDENCE HEALTH: CALIFORNIA CLEAN GREENS ASSOCIATION.)WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS DECLARED IN LATE MARCH, IT HAD A SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF FARMERS MARKETS TO OPERATE. MANY HAD TO SHUT DOWN FOR TWO TO FOUR WEEKS WHILE THEY RECONFIGURED THEIR SETUP TO COMPLY WITH OVERLAPPING STATE, CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF HAND SANITIZING STATIONS, SECTIONING OFF THE PRODUCE FROM THE CUSTOMERS SO THAT THERE WAS NO HANDLING OF PRODUCE BEFORE PURCHASE, AS IS CUSTOMARILY DONE, SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS WOULD BE SIX FEET APART IN LINES AT VENDOR BOOTHS, AND MASK PROTOCOLS ENFORCEMENT.IN ADDITION, SEVEN MARKETS AT WHICH HUNGER ACTION LA SPONSORS THE MARKET MATCH PROGRAM HAD TO SHUT DOWN INDEFINITELY, DUE TO THEIR LOCATION ON HEALTH FACILITY CAMPUSES (FIVE KAISER PERMANENTE LOCATIONS PLUS ONE LOCATION AT PROVIDENCE HEALTH IN WILMINGTON AND ONE AT WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.) THESE REMAIN CLOSED.HOWEVER, AT THE OTHER 22 MARKETS WHERE HALA OPERATES MARKET MATCH, WE WITNESSED AN UNEXPECTED PHENOMENON WHICH WAS AN ACTUAL INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN MARKET MATCH, ANYWHERE FROM 10% TO AS HIGH AS 50% AT SOME MARKETS. THE OPEN AIR ENVIRONMENT INSPIRED CONFIDENCE IN CUSTOMERS, PLUS THE APPEAL OF NOT HAVING TO WAIT IN A LONG LINE TO ENTER A SUPERMARKET (IN THE DAYS WHEN STORES LIMITED CUSTOMER NUMBERS) AND OF COURSE THE INCENTIVE OF MARKET MATCH WHICH PROVIDES UP TO $10 BONUS COUPONS FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT EACH MARKET VISIT, COMBINED TO CREATE A VERITABLE EXPLOSION IN PARTICIPATION AT FARMERS MARKETS.HALA FUNDED $297,850 IN MARKET MATCH TRANSACTIONS IN THE PERIOD JANUARY-DECEMBER 2020.WIC MATCHING PROGRAM: HUNGER ACTION LA SUB-CONTRACTED WITH SEE-LA (ANOTHER ENTITY WHO OPERATES FARMERS MARKETS) ON A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MATCHING DOLLARS TO WIC PARTICIPANTS. $7,790 WAS DISTRIBUTED BY HALA IN "WIC PLUS" COUPONS TO LOW INCOME FARMERS MARKET CUSTOMERS RECEIVING WIC.
Geographies
Not indicated
Dates
Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
Source
990
No causes provided
No populations provided
–
$400.5K
Program 2 [2020]
SENIOR FARM BOXES: HUNGER ACTION LA SUB-CONTRACTED WITH CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS TO WORK WITH FARMERS TO CREATE AND DELIVER 4,300 BOXES OF FARM FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTY FOOD BANKS. THE FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. THE BOX PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO REPLACE THE SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES COUPONS ONCE ANNUALLY FOR SENIORS TO USE AT FARMERS MARKETS. THE IDEA DEVELOPED AT THE STATE LEVEL DUE TO FEARS THAT SENIORS SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO FARMERS MARKETS DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND TO DEVISE ANOTHER WAY OF USING THE FUNDING TO GET FRESH PRODUCE TO PARTICIPATING ELDERS. THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED AFTER A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS. HUNGER ACTION LA WORKED WITH CASTELLANOS FARMS; I & M FARMS: BUENROSTRO FARMS: DIVINE HARVEST FARMS AND SUBCONTRACTORS TO PACKAGE THE FOOD AND OVERSEE THE PROCESS. THE TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $184,900. OF THIS TOTAL $170,712 WENT TO FARMERS. HUNGER ACTION LA INVOICED $7,000 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. $3,594 WENT TO ADAMS VERMONT FARMERS MARKET AND $3,594 WAS PAID TO SUBCONTRACTOR EVELIN TAMAYO-HERNANDEZ.COVID FOOD DELIVERY: HUNGER ACTION LA CREATED A FOOD DELIVERY PROGRAM IN MARCH 2020 AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC TO SERVE 100 TO 200 HOMEBOUND PEOPLE WHO NEEDED FOOD. HALA IS CURRENTLY SERVING 140 HOUSEHOLDS AND IN TOTAL HAS SERVED OVER 184 HOUSEHOLDS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. EACH WEEK 25 TO 30 VOLUNTEERS DRIVE FOOD TO THE PARTICIPANTS. THE PARTICIPANTS WERE MOSTLY REFERRED TO HALA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, CONSISTING FIRST OF THE BLIND/LOW VISION CONTINGENT OF HUNGER ACTION LA PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN EXPANDING TO REFERRALS OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING LA TENANTS UNION AND THE 211 RESOURCE LINE, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST INCOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN MANY CASES, CUSTOMERS RECEIVED FOOD FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS AND THEN NOTIFIED US WHEN THEY NO LONGER NEEDED THE ASSISTANCE, WHICH ALLOWED US TO THEN SERVE OTHER PERSONS.THE PARTICIPANTS CONSISTED IN A TYPICAL WEEK OF 35 LARGE FAMILIES REQUIRING LARGER AMOUNTS OF UNCOOKED GROCERIES; 75 SINGLE INDIVIDUALS MOSTLY SENIORS WHO RECEIVED SMALLER ALLOTMENTS THAN THE FAMILIES; AND UP TO 40 PARTICIPANTS WHO FOR VARIOUS REASONS REQUIRED PREPARED MEALS RATHER THAN UNCOOKED GROCERIES. FROM JULY 2020 THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, MANY OF THE PREPARED MEALS WERE PURCHASED FROM RESTAURANTS NEAR HALA'S CENTRAL LOCATION IN KOREATOWN, AS A WAY TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY WHILE FEEDING HUNGRY PERSONS. THIS PORTION OF THE PROJECT WAS SPECIFICALLY FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM 2ND SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT OF LA COUNTY (MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS, SUPERVISOR.) THE SOURCES FOR THE GROCERY (UNPREPARED) FOOD INCLUDED FOOD FORWARD (DISTRIBUTING SURPLUS PRODUCE FROM ALL OVER LA COUNTY); MUTUAL AID ACTION OF LOS ANGELES; AND THE HOLLYWOOD FOOD HUB. IN ADDITION, HALA USED FUNDS TO PURCHASE FROM OUR FARMERS NETWORK WHO VEND AT THE FARMERS MARKETS WHERE HALA OFFERS MARKET MATCH. ON 8 OCCASIONS, PRODUCE BOXES OF FARM FRESH GOODS WORTH $35 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILIES AND SENIORS. AFTER THE LOCKDOWNS WERE GENERALLY DISCONTINUED, WE BEGAN TO RE-PURPOSE THE PROGRAM TO SERVE REFERRALS FROM HOSPITALS FOR PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM OPERATIONS AND OTHER REFERRALS FROM A PLATFORM CALLED UNITE US, WHICH IS CO-SPONSORED BY KAISER PERMANENTE AND DIGNITY HEALTH. APPROXIMATELY 73,000 MEALS' WORTH OF FOOD HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED. WIC PREPARED FOOD BOX CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION: THE WIC FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM, USUALLY TAKING PLACE IN JUNE, WAS DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER. HALA'S AFFILIATED FARMERS MARKETS PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES WOMEN WITH CHILDREN AGE 5 AND UNDER (INCLUDING PREGNANT WOMEN) WITH VOUCHERS TO USE SPECIFICALLY AT FARMERS MARKETS FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. WE CREATED AN ONLINE SYSTEM TO ALLOW WIC PARTICIPANTS TO ORDER PRE-PACKAGED BOXES FROM THE FARMERS MARKETS. 1,372 WIC CUSTOMERS UTILIZED THE SYSTEM IN A PERIOD OF ABOUT 12 WEEKS. THE BOXES WERE PACKED AT THE MARKETS AND TAKEN TO THE PARTICIPANTS WHO DROVE TO THE MARKET BUT THEN WAITED IN THEIR VEHICLES, CREATING A SYSTEM OF MINIMAL CONTACT GIVEN THE COVID PRECAUTIONS. A LARGER NUMBER THAN THAT HOWEVER CHOSE TO SHOP IN PERSON RATHER THAN PRE-ORDER THE BOXES. NEARLY 5,000 CUSTOMERS WERE SERVED IN ALL.
Geographies
Not indicated
Dates
Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
Source
990
No causes provided
No populations provided
–
$277.4K
Program 3 [2020]
POLICY ADVOCACY: HALA HAS ALWAYS PRIMARILY BEEN A GROUP THAT CONDUCTS ADVOCACY RATHER THAN DIRECT SERVICE. WE WERE CONCERNED THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR EMERGENCY ACTIVITIES AROUND FOOD DISTRIBUTION WOULD ECLIPSE OUR WORK IN PUBLIC POLICY. NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED. IN FACT WE DISCOVERED THAT WITH VIRTUAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION SUCH AS FREE CONFERENCE CALL, ZOOM AND OTHERS, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTACT LEGISLATORS MORE FREQUENTLY, CONFIRM MORE VISITS, AND SPEAK WITH ACTUAL LEGISLATORS RATHER THAN STAFF MEMBERS MORE OFTEN THAN IN PRE-PANDEMIC DAYS. IN ADDITION, WHILE WE COULD NOT TRAVEL IN PERSON TO SACRAMENTO WITH BUSLOADS OF GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES, WE WERE ABLE TO INVOLVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DUE TO HEALTH REASONS HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THAT TRIP WITH US IN PERSON. THE PANDEMIC RESULTED IN MANY ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS, WHETHER THEY WERE IN THEIR FINANCIAL STATE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OR JUST AS A RESULT OF IT. THIS ACTUALLY CREATED A RUSH TO PROPOSE LEGISLATION ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT HAVE LONG BEEN LEFT TO FESTER, AND WHICH ANTI-HUNGER ADVOCATES HAVE LONG BEEN ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN MORE FAVORABLE POLICIES. THESE INCLUDE RAISING THE STATE PORTION OF THE SSI PAYMENT; EXPANDING CALFRESH TO POPULATIONS CURRENTLY NOT ELIGIBLE SUCH AS THE UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS; AND EXPANDING SCHOOL MEALS TO ALL CALIFORNIA SCHOOL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF INCOME. AS THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SEASON BEGAN PASSING, THE SUCCESSOR TO THAT BILL (NOW CALLED SB 882) WAS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF OUR POLICY WORK. THE COVID CRISIS THREW A WRENCH INTO THOSE PLANS, AS GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL BEGAN TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY DIRECT SERVICES THAT WERE NEEDED AS WELL AS THE PROSPECT OF HAVING A HUGE BUDGET DEFICIT AT THE STATE LEVEL, EVEN USING THE "RAINY DAY FUNDS" THAT HAD BEEN PUT AWAY.THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA BALLOONED TO INCLUDE 9 ITEMS BY THE END OF MARCH INCLUDING: INCREASED STATE FUNDING FOR FOOD BANKS: EMERGENCY FOOD BANK FUNDING, PROVIDE $20 MILLION TOWARD THE $96 MILLION ONE-TIME COVID-19 REQUEST, AND $32 MILLION FOR DISASTER RESILIENCE-RELATED FOOD & SUPPLIES - BUDGET REQUESTO ENSURE SSI RECIPIENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MEET BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD BY INCREASING SSP GRANT AMOUNTS, STRENGTHENING THE TRANSITIONAL NUTRITION BENEFITS PROGRAM, AND CONTINUING FUNDING FOR CALFRESH OUTREACH AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE - BUDGET REQUESTO SIMPLIFY THE CALFRESH APPLICATION AND REPORTING PROCESSES, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BY MAKING EMERGENCY FLEXIBILITIES PERMANENT - SB 882 (WIENER)O INVEST IN SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL BY ENSURING SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO SERVE MEALS DURING THE SUMMER AND INCENTIVIZING ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO ADOPT THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION TO SERVE MEALS FREE TO ALL STUDENTS - BUDGET REQUESTO PROTECT CALFRESH FOR UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED ADULTS BY PROVIDING STATE-FUNDED ANTI-HUNGER FOOD ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE SUBJECT TO THE FEDERAL CALFRESH TIME LIMIT - AB 1022 (WICKS)O CONTINUE COLLEGE BASIC NEEDS FUNDING AT $30 MILLION TO RESPOND TO BASIC NEEDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS, INCLUDING THE HUNGER FREE CAMPUS INITIATIVE - BUDGET REQUESTO ENSURE ELIGIBLE PEOPLE LEAVING JAIL OR PRISON ARE RECEIVING CALFRESH BY REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO ISSUE GUIDANCE ON ALLOWABLE AND PROMISING PRACTICES FOR APPLICATION ASSISTANCE - AB 3073 (WICKS)O ENSURE ONLINE CALFRESH ORDERING, EBT PURCHASES, AND HOME DELIVERY OPTIONS MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING: EXPANDING NUMBER AND TYPE OF PARTICIPATING RETAILERS, ENSURING CLIENT PROTECTIONS AND DATA PRIVACY, AND WAIVING DELIVERY FEES - SB 33 (SKINNER)O CALEITC: END THE EXCLUSION OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS FILING TAXES WITH ITINS, OR WORK STATUS PROVIDED THROUGH DACA OR TPS - BUDGET REQUEST & COMPANION BILL IN AB 1593 (REYES)WE WERE FACED WITH THE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE OF CONDUCTING ADVOCACY AND VISITS TO LEGISLATORS WITHOUT GOING TO SACRAMENTO IN PERSON. AS WITH SO MANY MILLIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE TURNED TO ZOOM (ACTUALLY TO OUR FREECONFERENCECALL ACCOUNT, WHICH ALLOWS FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING) . WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SCHEDULE AND COMPLETE LEGISLATIVE VISITS WITH 21 LOS ANGELES AREA ASSEMBLYMEMBERS AND SENATORS. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES ENCOUNTERED INCLUDED:1. WE MODIFIED "HUNGER ACTION DAY" INTO "HUNGER ACTION MONTH", CONDUCTING THE PHONE CALLS AND WEBINARS OVER A PERIOD OF ROUGHLY FIVE WEEKS. THIS ALLOWED FOR US TO DO MORE FOLLOW UP TO ENSURE WE GOT VISITS WITH LEGISLATORS2. BY NOT GOING IN PERSON TO SACRAMENTO AND USING VIRTUAL VISITS, WE WERE ABLE TO INVOLVE AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE INCLUDING SOME WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL WITH US3. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO MORE FREQUENTLY SCHEDULE PHONE CALLS WITH ACTUAL LEGISLATORS RATHER THAN THEIR STAFF4. WE DID A MUCH BETTER JOB OF TRACKING THE INFORMATION GLEANED ON EACH PHONE CALL OR VIDEO CALL, AND TO COMPARE NOTES REGARDING ALL THE VARIOUS LEGISLATORS' STANCES ON THE BILLS5. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO CONDUCT 4 VIRTUAL TRAININGS SESSIONS, BRINGING TOGETHER NONPROFIT AGENCY STAFF WITH GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO RECEIVE THE SAME INFORMATION6. THE CHIEF DOWNSIDE OF THE PROCESS THIS YEAR WAS THAT WE MISSED THE ENERGY GENERATED WHEN CROWDS OF PEOPLE GO INTO LEGISLATIVE OFFICES TO MAKE A POINT. HOWEVER, THE "VIRTUAL VISITS" WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WE WILL CONTINUE USING THEM NEXT YEAR, EVEN IF WE DO END UP SCHEDULING AN IN-PERSON HUNGER ACTION DAY AS WELL.
Geographies
Not indicated
Dates
Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
Source
990
No causes provided
No populations provided
–
$1.4K

HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES INC

HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES INC

HUNGER ACTION LOS ANGELES INC

Overview

Programs

990s

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Board & Team

Financial Trends

Funders

Grants Received

Programs

Program 1 [2020]

Program 2 [2020]

Program 3 [2020]

Programs