Orange, CA Food Banks To Help for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and unfortunately, many families are looking for alternative means to put a traditional turkey dinner on the table. Between the economy, inflation, gas prices, and more, many families are looking at alternative ways to save money or even make a traditional Thanksgiving meal happen. Here are six Orange, California, food banks to help with your Thanksgiving meal.

What Is Food Insecurity?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the inability to consistently access enough food to live a healthy, active life. However, food insecurity differs from hunger, a physical sensation of discomfort associated with inadequate food consumption. Instead, food insecurity refers to the lack of financial resources to consistently keep food in your home.

However, food insecurity doesn’t have a singular face, as it affects all communities across the United States. Some populations most affected by food insecurity include children, college students, senior citizens, and rural community members. The USDA also finds food insecurity higher for Latinos and African Americans.

Food security can be categorized into four ranges:

• High food security : Having no anxiety about or problems with consistently accessing enough food.
• Marginal food security : Having anxiety about or occasional problems with accessing enough food, but variety, quality, and quantity aren’t affected.
• Low food security : Having anxiety or problems with accessing enough food, resulting in the reduced variety, quality, and desirability of the food being affected, but the quantity isn’t changed.
• Very low food security : Having high anxiety about or problems with accessing enough food, resulting in one or more family members changing their eating patterns or having it disrupted due to lack of money for food.

If you’re experiencing food insecurity at any level, here are some food banks that can help you at Thanksgiving time or any other time of the year.

First Presbyterian Church of Orange

Through the Community Outreach program, the First Presbyterian Church of Orange can provide a weekly food pantry offering. Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon, you can pick up a food bag with non-perishable items in the Fellowship Hall. This program is open to individuals and households. And due to the overwhelming need, the church has added a special food pantry event on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Families and individuals who need additional help are welcome to participate in one or both food pantries. The Fellowship Hall is located at 191 N. Orange St. in Orange, California.

Son Light Christian Center

On Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., you can collect food items from the Son Light Christian Center, which are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This service is available to those individuals and families in need. You’ll find the Son Light Food Bank behind 161 N. Glassell St. in Orange, California. You can only access the food pantry from the parking lot. For questions regarding Son Light Food Bank, you can contact the church office at 714-997-8501 during business hours on Tuesday through Friday.

Friendly Center

The Friendly Center has a Turkey Basket drive to collect the food needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 500 families. Families can sign up for a drop-off appointment starting Nov. 1, 2022. The drop-off date will be Nov. 21, 2022, at either 147 W. Rose Ave. in Orange or 6688 Beach Blvd. in Buena Park. The Friendly Center also provides baskets for families at Easter and organizes a toy and gift drive for the Christmas season.

To get help for you and your family, call the Friendly Center at 714-771-5300. Someone can take your call Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Community Action Partnership Orange County

The Community Action Partnership of Orange County sponsors the Orange County Food Bank program, which supplies individuals and families with much-needed food. They partner with over 300 local charities, community organizations, and soup kitchens. Through USDA commodities, purchased and donated food, and the support of many individuals, the food bank provides approximately 23 million pounds of food each year.

The Orange County Food Bank also provides a monthly food package for low-income seniors. Over 23,000 boxes are distributed each month. It also has a Mobile Food Trolly, a mobile grocery store on wheels servicing low-income families in Orange County. Staff at the Orange County Food Bank also assist individuals and families in applying for California’s CalFresh program to help support those on limited incomes.

St. Norbert Catholic Church of Orange, California

St. Norbert Catholic Church of Orange, California, sponsors a Christian Service Program food distribution every Saturday. This food distribution is designed to assist individuals and families in need. The weekly distribution takes place in a drive-thru setting from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Food packages include fresh nutritional foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, rice, eggs, milk, canned goods, and bread. For more information, call 714-637-4360. You can find the food distribution at 300 E. Taft Ave. in Orange, California.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County

Second Harvest is a large regional food bank providing food for individuals and families who need it. It focuses on vulnerable populations, such as seniors, college students, working families, and children. Much of the food is purchased locally, but a portion of the produce is grown by Second Harvest. This food is distributed to over 250 locations across Orange County.

Although Second Harvest doesn’t distribute food at its Irvine location, it’s a vital service to many food pantries in the area. For food assistance, go to 211OC.org, OCFoodHelp.org, call 211, or text 898-211. Someone is available to assist you at 211 of Orange County 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also have assistance in several languages for your convenience.

Our Mazda of Orange team hopes this list helps alleviate some anxiety you may experience about gathering the necessary food to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Local churches and food banks are always available to help meet your nutritional needs. Reach out to your local community members, including our staff at Mazda of Orange, for more resources and information.

Image by Joel Muniz licensed under Unsplash License