One hundred volunteers from Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Labor Community Services (LCS) teamed up at the LCS Warehouse in Bell, CA on June 7 to sort through more than 1.8 million pounds of food donations collected through the 32nd Annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
The charitable contribution addresses food insecurity for families and individuals throughout LA County. SoCalGas boosted the initiative with an additional donation of $25,000 to LCS for groceries, which could aid approximately 1,000 families facing food insecurity for up to five days.
In addition to organizing donated food, SoCalGas is working with LCS to provide families and individuals with resources about customer assistance programs that can help save money on monthly utility bills. Through the work of SoCalGas and LCS, thousands of residents will have access to food and information on receiving assistance in paying their natural gas bills.
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“Food banks receive the most food donations around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The NALC ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive was initially started in May to ensure that local food banks have enough stock to meet demand in the spring and summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are typically unavailable,” said Yvonne Wheeler, president of the L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
“The foundation of the labor movement is solidarity, and it is thanks to NALC Branch 24, Labor Community Services, SoCalGas, and all the volunteers, that 1.8 million pounds of food will now assist our most vulnerable communities across L.A. County struggling with food insecurity during this poverty crisis.”
For more than six decades, LCS (in partnership with Los Angeles County Federation of Labor) has been assisting unemployed and underemployed union families with groceries during the year via pantries and holiday meal distribution.
“In the richest nation, there isn’t any reason why any family should go to bed hungry tonight. That is why support from community partners like SoCalGas is critical in the fight against food insecurity,” said Norma López, executive director of LCS.
“As SoCalGas’ staff and volunteers help us sort the 1.8 million pounds of food we collected during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, we are reminded of the impact that we can make together if we stick with one another so we each have the ability to make a difference in the lives of those who need help to get through the toughest of times.”
In Southern California, the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is conducted through the NALC Branch 24 in collaboration with LCS, and various labor unions affiliated to the AFL-CIO. This year’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive collaborated with 45 post offices and 51 community partners.
SoCalGas has supported LCS since 2007, and, in 2023, SoCalGas volunteers sorted 74,000 pounds of food that were distributed to food banks across Los Angeles County to feed approximately 2,900 families.
“Labor Community Services and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO are dedicated to helping families in need, and SoCalGas is honored to support their efforts to Stamp Out Hunger,” said Maryam Brown, president of SoCalGas.
“Combatting hunger requires a united community-wide response and we are proud to play a part in that.”
As part of SoCalGas’ ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy, the company also plans to invest $50 million into underserved communities over five years, working to advance racial and gender diversity in the workplace and take steps towards a carbon-neutral future. In 2023, SoCalGas contributed $19.2 million in charitable giving, including $15.4 million towards social impact initiatives.
SoCalGas offers programs and services that can help customers manage their natural gas usage and help save energy and money. To see more programs that can help customers save money and energy, visit socalgas.com/Save.
Individuals interested in helping LCS sort food donations can sign up at lcs-la.org. Volunteer opportunities are taking place through July 1.
