Who We Are… The Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to serving the community and changing lives by helping people help themselves. During challenging times when providing the essentials becomes difficult, the Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank provides hope to many families through its nourishment program, and self-enrichment workshops. The success of the Hawaiian Garden Food Bank depends on the cooperative effort between the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation who contributes 60% towards the purchase of fresh food and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank who donates the other 40% of USDA commodities in food to be distributed to low-income families in need.
Mission: To provide food and other resources to families in need. To accomplish our mission to end hunger we will:
- Solicit surplus food from distributors and distribute it to families in need
- Form strong partnerships with local grocery stores, produce distributors, and other non-profit organizations.
- Find additional resources to fight hunger
- Raise hunger awareness and increase community outreach
- Provide additional resources and services for families in need
As a result of the recession, the number of Americans who lack food has peaked to its all-time highest. As the country begins to move out of the recession, there is still millions of Americans struggling to provide food and other basic needs for their families.
The Moskowitz Foundation is the primary supporter of the initiative to end hunger in our community, founder Dr. Moskowitz says, “I remember growing up hungry, but I cannot sit idly by and watch children in our community grow up without food to eat.” His humanitarian beliefs drive this initiative to provide food, as well as educational workshops, computer classes and other self-enrichment programs for families in need.
What We Do… As part of the initiative to end hunger the Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank currently serves over 1,000 families (approximately 2,500 individuals) on a monthly basis. The goal of the organization is to provide families in need with nutritious food as well as resources and programs that will help people get back on their feet. In conjunction with the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation, the Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank organizes and coordinates all programs and services offered to the community. The Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank is intended for the residents in Hawaiian Gardens; however, we help anyone in need by distributing USDA commodities.
The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation has distributed:
- Year to date since 1995 over $20,000.000 worth of food to those in need
- 479,692 pounds of food distributed in 2024
The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation also pays all operating expenses for the Hawaiian Gardens Food Bank. Each Food Bank recipient receives a variety of produce, grains, canned goods, juice, tortillas, and bread. In accordance with the organization’s mission no resident in need of Hawaiian Gardens is turned away. The organization is fully committed to provide assistance to as many families in need as possible. In addition to nourishments, all registered recipients are eligible to also receive bi-weekly vouchers for use at the local grocery store.