By: STEPHANIE DAVIS SMITH
A longtime LA-based charitable organization takes on its most extensive campaign yet after doubling in size during the pandemic. Here’s how to help.
Project Angel Food experienced explosive growth during the pandemic. When others slowed or and even shut down, it did the opposite. “We live in the world of ‘yes,’” says the organization’s CEO Richard Ayoub. “When Meals on Wheels needed our help, we said ‘yes.’ When the City of West Hollywood needed our help, we said ‘yes.’ And, when people with COVID-19 needed food, we said ‘yes.’”
Project Angel Food was founded in 1989, initially in response to the AIDS crisis. Now, it feeds thousands of people every day throughout L.A. County. “From Lancaster to Long Beach and Pomona to Santa Monica,” says Ayoub. The organization is also a founding California Food is Medicine Coalition member and has sister organizations in San Francisco and Alameda Counties, San Diego County, Sonoma County, Fresno, and Santa Cruz. Its clients typically live with a critical illness at home and can’t shop and cook for themselves.
“We are Instacart, a gourmet restaurant, and Postmates all rolled into one,” says Ayoub. “If you want to play any of those roles, we welcome it. You can chop up vegetables, pack meals, or deliver them to our clients.” The organization loves its volunteers, some of whom are quite famous.” In the days before cell phones, the answering machine at Project Angel Food received a message from Cher. It said, “Hi, this is Cher. I can’t cook, but I can clean someone’s house if you need me.” Elizabeth Taylor was a longtime supporter and gave the organization its first check. George Michael volunteered here when he did community service. He has continued to donate posthumously, as his estate gives $25,000 annually to the organization. Bette Midler and Judith Light would pop in the kitchen once in a while. And most recently Prince Harry and Meghan Markle delivered meals to clients at the height of the pandemic. After said visit, a client told the press, “If I would have known royalty was coming to my house, I would have worn a tiara.”
Aside from helping through time and effort, Californians can help through capital donations. Project Angel Food recently launched a donation campaign, Rise to the Challenge, with a goal of reaching $51 million. The intent is to prepare for future growth. The charity grew by 42 percent in one year. In 2019, it cooked, prepared and delivered 650,000 meals. By 2022, it had doubled that number to 1.6 million meals. Project Angel Food’s $51 million campaign will help prepare for future growth. Project Angel Food’s current building will be given a top-to-bottom overhaul—doubling the size of the kitchen to triple the number of meals it can produce every year. The new property will be constructed across the street from the current location. Along with housing Project Angel Food’s support services, the new location will include a demonstration kitchen to teach clients to cook their meals on their own. Project Angel Food is also launching a Research and Policy Institute to impact the Food is Medicine Movement nationally. Construction begins in early 2024, with a projected opening date of 2027.
This holiday season the organization will not only deliver meals but also toys to its clients’ children. These are often the only gifts these children will receive. Project Angel Food needs donations before the end of the year to continue its efforts to expand nutritional services and to help even more food-insecure Angelenos. | angelfood.org/donate
