Non-profit groups in Long Beach continue to provide free food for those in need during this holiday season.
Christian Outreach in Action is a non-profit organization near downtown Long Beach that has been serving the community by providing daily free hot meals, hygiene kits, clothing, food and diaper banks for years.
“People can walk in, anytime, no questions asked, no registration required, we don’t need ID’s,” Debbie Ach, a volunteer said.
With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were cut due to the government shut down, food banks became the next source for free food for many. And new requirements for SNAP eligibility make food insecurity real for local families.
Even after the 43-day government shut down stopped, the longest in United States history, people are still struggling for groceries. Steadily rising grocery prices and the holidays contribute to an influx of people visiting food banks.
About 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. This highlights the food insecurity most people deal with on a day to day basis.
Ach said that what’s special about their food bank is that they have a farmer’s market style food bank where people can choose what they need, whether it be produce, bread, or cans as opposed to just giving people a box of stuff that they might not use for whichever reasons.
She also said that there has definitely been an impact as she has seen the lines getting longer in recent weeks.
“I think that the city of Long Beach, the community here is really pulling together, hosting food drives to help the people in need in the neighborhood,” said Ach about the surge in community support recently.
“People know to donate to us, to volunteer, we need it,” said Ach.
Carolina Mendez, who was lined up for the food bank said she has three kids, all under the age of 12 who she needs to be able to feed.
“Estoy aquí porque mis hijos tienen que comer algo”, she said. “I’m here because my kids need to eat.”
Mendez, a homemaker, said her husband is the sole provider so the cost of living, rent and bills take up the majority of the household expenses.
“Con lo de la renta y los biles no queda lo necesario para toda la comida que necesitamos”, she said. “With rent and bills, we don’t have what’s necessary in terms of the food we need.”
“Lo que me dan aquí puedo por lo menos hacer una simple comida cuando se nos acaba la marketa”, she added. “With what I get here I can at least make something simple when we run out of groceries.”
Lisa Miller from the Help Me Help You non-profit organization also said that lines for their food bank have been getting longer.
“It’s (the amount of people coming by the food bank) already increased by 25% and we’re expecting it to continue to increase,” Miller said.
Many food banks in the country are struggling as there has been a surge in demand, some have already run out of food due to the benefit cuts and now uncertainty over SNAP eligibility.
Miller says she hopes they don’t run out of food.
“The people that we get food from say that they’ll be able to increase the food we get and we’re trying to get grants so we can purchase some more as well,” Miller said. “Our mission is to feed, our goal is of course to decrease food insecurity.”
The Long Beach city community continues to support non-profits in their ongoing dedication to make sure people are getting the necessary meals and materials they need especially during this uncertainty filled holiday season.
Mayra Salazar is a student at CSULB in her final year, graduating spring 2026. She is majoring in journalism and has a minor in translation studies. She is also a reporter with ENYE, the bilingual magazine at Cal State Long Beach. Past news assistant for the Long Beach Current and intern at Insurance Journal. Focuses on news and community reporting.
Cover photo: Volunteers at Christian Outreach in Action prepare and distribute food, milk, and prepared meals to community members during a daily food bank service in Long Beach. (Mayra Salazar)