West Hollywood is stepping up again.
With the federal government still withholding SNAP benefits during what’s now the longest shutdown in our nation’s history, the City is reactivating WeHo Responds, a community program built for moments exactly like this. It’s in times like these, when the people we elect to keep things running — and at the very least protect systems that feed our most vulnerable neighbors — fall short, that we have to step in for each other.
The call is simple, give if you can. Local food banks, nutrition programs and meal delivery services need donations and volunteers now. Cash contributions go the farthest, letting organizations buy the fresh food and supplies they know their clients need most. Let’s be honest, most of us either don’t have the time or don’t make the time to show up in person and volunteer, so a cash donation really is one of the best and easiest options.
That said, they also need boots on the ground. Anyone who can spare an hour or two to help prep and deliver meals, or to check in on vulnerable residents, will be greatly appreciated.
On the City’s website, weho.org/wehoresponds, residents can find a list of trusted local partners now accepting donations:
Seeds of Hope, a program of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, provides fresh produce and pantry items, nutrition education, healthy cooking classes, and therapeutic gardening. Seeds of Hope hosts free food distributions, and West Hollywood community members can pick up free produce and staples to prepare meals at home at no cost. For more information, visit www.seedsofhopela.org or call (213) 482-2040. To donate, visit here.
Jewish Family Service Los Angeles (JFS) serves weekday lunches at Plummer Park for seniors and people with disabilities and runs the SOVA pop-up pantry. jfsla.org
Project Angel Food delivers meals to West Hollywood residents living with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. More info here.
World Harvest partners with the City’s Food Access Program to provide grocery vouchers redeemable for produce and pantry items. More information here.
Farm Habit has launched a “Shutdown Dollar Program” at the Helen Albert Farmers’ Market, giving $15 credits to customers with $0 EBT balances during the SNAP freeze. farmhabit.com
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank coordinates a countywide network of more than 900 pantries. More information here.
FeedLA helps families and seniors access nutritious food through local YMCAs. More info here.
The WeHo Responds program has a long history of turning compassion into action. It first came to life in 2005, when City Council set it up to help Gulf Coast residents after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, it’s been reactivated in moments of crisis — from the war in Ukraine to wildfires in Maui and Los Angeles County, and after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
This latest call is closer to home. The shutdown has left thousands of Los Angeles County residents suddenly without food assistance, and demand for local meal programs is already climbing.
The City’s Human Services Division is coordinating efforts and urging residents to share verified donation links directly rather than setting up independent drives.
More information is available at weho.org/humanservices or by calling (323) 848-6510. For residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 or (800) 735-2929 for California Relay Service assistance.
