Volunteer Center Expands Efforts with New Long Beach Pantry – Los Angeles Sentinel
The Volunteer Center celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated pantry in Long Beach on Thursday, November 7, marking a major milestone in the fight against food insecurity for the South Bay Area.
The event brought together elected officials, nonprofit organizations, school district personnel, and other key supporters, reflecting a unified commitment to fighting hunger and uplifting local families.
Founded in 1963 as a three-year demonstration project by the Junior League of Long Beach, the Volunteer Center has grown into a driving force for empathy, volunteerism, and collective action. With a refreshed space and renewed energy, the Volunteer Center breathes new life into its mission.
"We have our eyes on expanding our presence and the impact of our programs in the Long Beach community," said Board Chair Kevin Morrow.
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The transformation was made possible by Home Depot's generous contribution of over $25,000 in materials and a full week of dedicated labor, showcasing a powerful collaboration for community impact.
Established in 1984, the Volunteer Center's Court Referred Community Service program serves over 6,500 clients with more than 36,000 hours of service to the community each year. Since 2009, its Food for Kids initiative has provided over 1.2 million meals to students and families in the South Bay region, with 3,100 weekend meals to students and families in need.
Dr. Josh Gezahegn, president of the Volunteer Center, emphasized the transformative power of service, stating, "When you make the choice to volunteer and make a difference in someone's life, that is actually the biggest gift you can give to yourself and to others. This is a community of services, a community that is coming together to uplift those in need."
Vice Mayor Cindy Allen addressed the crowd, reflecting on the ongoing struggle with hunger.
"It breaks my heart today that we still have food insecurity," she said. "But we're going to work toward this. And my dream for the future is that no kid anywhere goes hungry."
Dr. Gezahegn announced that the pantry opened in August and has already adopted six schools, with plans to continue expanding until all schools in need are served.
As the Volunteer Center continues to build on its long-standing legacy, the opening of the new pantry symbolizes hope and commitment to eradicating hunger, one meal at a time.
