Free Food for Thousands at Las Palmas Park Community Event

Community Comes Together for Food Distribution

At Las Palmas Park in the City of San Fernando, a significant event took place as thousands of pounds of food were arranged on tables in the gymnasium, ready to be given out freely to the community. This initiative was part of a larger effort by the Ignite The Light Of Hope Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity.

The selection of food items included a variety of healthy options such as milk, juice, bottled water, canned goods, and fresh produce like tomatoes, grapes, oranges, strawberries, bananas, pears, bread, and condiments. More than a hundred individuals stood in line outside the gym, waiting patiently with bags and small carts to gather groceries for their families. Volunteers from the foundation worked diligently for over an hour and a half, distributing all the available food.

Lorraine Aceves, the founder and president of the nonprofit, emphasized the growing need for assistance in the community. “In every city, there’s a huge need, especially because food insecurity is at its highest right now,” she said. “Everything’s so expensive, especially with children out of school and unable to get free meals, so during the summer we come together and unite to lift up the spirits of those who are struggling.”

Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation has been expanding its efforts ever since. Instead of holding events at a single location, they bring food to various centers and parks within the City of San Fernando, Pacoima, and Sylmar every Friday. This approach allows them to reach more people in need across different areas.

The foundation collaborates with several organizations, including MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) and the Dream Center, which provides support to those facing homelessness, hunger, and lack of education. These partnerships enable the foundation to offer essential items to families in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

In addition to these collaborations, the foundation relies on donations and grants from local city councils and businesses. A recent food distribution in the City of San Fernando was made possible through a $5,000 grant from the local City Council. Aceves expressed her gratitude for such support, noting that it significantly eases the burden on the organization. “Sometimes [the funding] comes out of our own pocket to be able to support our community. But if we get the extra funding, we’re able to provide more food, more of these essential items, including diapers, wipes, whatever the need is.”

In the past month, the foundation has faced new challenges due to federal immigration raids that have created fear among many residents. As a result, the foundation launched a pilot program where volunteers deliver food directly to people's homes on the same day as the distribution events. Aceves shared stories of individuals reaching out for help, including a young girl whose father was too scared to go to work, leading to financial difficulties for the family.

“Our team of volunteers will go and drop off the bags at their doors. We do not knock on the doors, we do not ask any questions, because a lot of people are in fear right now. We don’t want to make it difficult for them or to create any kind of trust issues,” Aceves explained.

Upcoming food distribution events include one at Las Palmas Park this Friday at 11:30 a.m. Plans are still being finalized for next week’s event, but the foundation will be visiting the Vaughn Family & Community Center in Pacoima on August 8 and El Cariso Park in Sylmar the following week.

For those interested in participating in the pilot program, they can contact Ignitetlh@gmail.com. Additional information about the foundation and its initiatives can be found at https://www.ignitetlh.org/.