every human bears a burden,
to test the muscles in your soul.
in love and kindness we find our strength,
to overcome life's heaviest times.
Together, We Gave $140,000 to Support LA Fire Relief – Thanks to You!
In the wake of the devastating LA wildfires, the need for food assistance has surged. Families, individuals, and entire communities have been upended, with many finding themselves in need of help for the first time. Westside Food Bank has been on the front lines, ensuring that those affected continue to have access to fresh, nutritious food.
Thanks to your incredible support of our Seconds Sale, glassybaby donated a portion of the proceeds to Westside Food Bank, directly sustaining their vital work.
One of two Westside Food Bank Warehouses
"Our hearts ache for the countless individuals who have lost their homes and jobs. Our small but dedicated team at Westside Food Bank is working tirelessly to address immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts. We are so grateful that glassybaby is joining forces with Westside Food Bank to support our community during this challenging time and to ensure no one has to navigate this journey alone." shares Genevieve Riutort, CEO of Westside Food Bank.
Meeting Immediate Needs & Long-Term Recovery
In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Westside Food Bank focused on ready-to-eat meals to serve those who had been displaced into temporary housing, such as hotels without kitchens. Now, as families find more stable living situations, the demand for fresh produce and pantry staples has risen significantly.
"The most immediate thing we’re doing is buying fresh food. We receive donated produce, but pantry staples—high-protein foods like canned tuna, shelf-stable milk, beans, and rice—need to be purchased. LA is such a diverse place, and we do our best to provide culturally relevant foods for the communities we serve." says Riutort.
Fresh fruit for families provided by Westside Food Bank during their fire relief distribution
Westside Food Bank serves one tenth of LA County, operating at an incredible scale. Their ability to order entire truckloads of food ensures that smaller food pantries and partner organizations can focus on their essential services. Many smaller organizations run solely on volunteer efforts – making it a necessity to rely on a larger organization like Westside Food Bank to do the heavy lifting of securing food.
"So many of our pantries wouldn’t exist at all without us." says Riutort.
Some of these organizations include:
- Backpacks for Kids – Providing fresh food for children in need
- Santa Monica College Pantry – Supplying food to students experiencing food insecurity
- Shelters for Women & Children – Offering meals to some of the most vulnerable members of the community
Westside Food Bank also runs five mobile markets per week, which have seen a 30% increase in families seeking assistance since the fires.
Before the fires, these markets served about 100–120 families each. Now, they are serving 180 or more families per market. Each is run by a dedicated team of three to four staff members and 15 volunteers, who pack food boxes the night before, load trucks in the morning, and spend double the time distributing food due to increased demand.
Fresh and shelf stable items that Westside Food Bank provides during their fire relief distribution.
"We set up our mobile markets like a farmers market so people can choose the food that best suits their needs. Some items—like rice, granola bars, and beans—are pre-packaged, while fresh produce is available for families to pick out themselves," explains Riutort.
More Than Just Food—A Network of Support
The fires didn’t just destroy homes; they disrupted entire livelihoods. Many small businesses survived the flames but lost their customers because entire neighborhoods were forced to relocate. Workers lost their jobs, and those already struggling to make ends meet are now facing even greater hardship.
"The impact of the fires goes beyond the initial devastation. As families settle into new housing, we are now seeing the disruption to their way of life, including lost income and community support systems," shares Riutort.
Westside Food Bank is responding by working with community partners to provide more than just food. These collaborations ensure that people in need can access a network of services, including CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, job assistance, and other crucial resources. At the beginning of April, Westside Food Bank, along with other partners will host a resource fair, to network a host of services – beyond a meal or fresh food.
"Food banks are designed for emergencies, but recovery takes years. After the 2008 recession, it took nearly a decade for food insecurity rates to return to pre-crisis levels. We’re bracing for a long-term response," says Riutort.
Your Support is Making a Difference
Because of your participation in our Seconds Sale, Westside Food Bank can continue purchasing healthy pantry staples. The financial contributions received at Westside Food Bank are going to their top priority, purchasing food.
Every volunteer who dedicates their time, every truckload of food that arrives at a pantry, and every meal that nourishes a family in need is a direct result of kindness and generosity. It’s at the heart of what glassybaby is here to do—spread light, bring comfort, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing hardship. Your support turns compassion into action, ensuring that those affected by the wildfires don’t have to navigate this difficult time alone.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this mission.
If you would like to read the heart warming story of how glassybaby was connected to Westside Food Bank, Please Read :: Madeleines Story
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