OC Covid FOOD Resource Guide! UPDATED 5-28

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 Just like with our guide on RENT, please let us know if we should add or change anything.

First, HERE‘s a county-wide guide for free “grab-and-go” school lunches.

TWO big things every Saturday:

Every Saturday, The Power of One will be giving out food at Mainplace Mall in Santa Ana, 8-2 (get in line at 7!)  Click on this image for info (it says April 18, but this should be every Saturday)

Also every Saturday at Anaheim’s Honda Center, 9-2, bags of groceries will be given away by Second Harvest (if you can drive there)

Now, first Anaheim and Santa Ana (all phone #s 714 unless otherwise) then other North & West OC cities in alphabetical order (714); and then South County (starting with Newport & Irvine, and all #s 949 unless otherwise)

1. If you need food in ANAHEIM

“Grab-and-go” breakfast/lunch & dinners for school-age children, delivered by the Anaheim YMCA:

Now that Anaheim kids who qualify for free school lunches have no school, breakfast/lunches (11-12) and Suppers (4:30 – 5:30) are being provided M-F, by the Anaheim YMCA, at too many schools to list here, so click here.  This should last as long as the school year was supposed to last, and possibly into the summer.

ALSO, for the benefit of Anaheim schoolkids whose parents don’t have cars or otherwise can’t get far, the YMCA is driving lunch buses to six neighborhoods every weekday around noon – Anna Drive, Canfield/Benmore, Vine Street, Brownwood, and Balsam (near State College).  Just look for the big blue ART bus around lunchtime on those short streets!  (The resort district decided they wanted to look involved.)

FOOD BANKS etc.

Kenneth Batiste giving out food on Anna Drive – one of many unpredictable freelance givers.

  • Just added:  THIS Friday only, April 24 at 1pm (and maybe Tuesday the 28th) – boxes of food at the Anaheim Alana Club, 202 W. Broadway at Lemon! (535-0900)
  • Just added: Christian Services in West Anaheim, Wed. 6:30 till food runs out, Sun. noon till food runs out;  641 S. Western Ave, “out front.”  (955-9525)
  • St Vincent at St Anthony Claret, Wed. 11:30 – 2 DRIVE-THRU food boxes, 1450 E. La Palma; 563-1652
  • Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Sunday 12:15-1pm; Wed. 8:30-11am, 5340 E. La Palma
  • Native American United Meth. Church, 800 South Lemon Street, 1:00 pm First and third Wednesday of each month; show up 11:30 am (535-2429)
  • Saddleback Church, 2095 E. Katella, Fridays 11-1, Third Wednesdays 9-11, & Fourth Saturdays 9-11; 949-609-8006
  • Emmanuel Spanish 7th-Day Adventist, 1520 South Lewis Street, Saturday Food Pantry 2-4; 909-714-3352
  • Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 South State College Boulevard, Thursdays 11-1; 776-5710
  • San Antonio Family Assistance, 5800 East Santa Ana Canyon Road, food pantry Thursdays 12-3; 974-9728
  • Salvation Army Red Shield, 1515 West North Street, canned foods, produce and frozen goods, MWF 10-1, T/Th 3-5pm; 491-1450
  • The Rock, 101 East Orangethorpe, drive-thru food pantry Saturdays 7-9am, 331-6311
  • Church of Christ Food Pantry, 641 South Western Avenue, Sundays 12:30
  • Anaheim West Comm. Center, 2271 W. Crescent Ave, Thursdays 11-1 frozen food; or if it’s your first time you can come Monday 11-1!  776-7560

AND EVERY SATURDAY, 9am-2, you can drive thru the HONDA CENTER to get a couple bags of food from SECOND HARVEST!

2. If you need food in SANTA ANA

  • Santa Ana Senior Center, 424 w. 3rd St, 2nd & 3rd Thursdays 8am-10:30, seniors can pick up frozen to-go meals; 647-6540
  • Senior Grocery Program / Cambodian Family, 1626 E. 4th St, First & Third Fridays 11-12; 571-1966
  • El Sol Academy, 1002 North Broadway, One bag of groceries, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Tuesday; 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Wednesday; 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Thursday; 1:00 pm-3:00 pm Friday; 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Saturday; Registration required, email Mercado@elsolacademy.org for detailed information; 543-0023
  • Micah’s Way – food, clothing & blankets for adults; 1517 East 4th Street; M-f 8-4; 667-7110
  • Brown Bag Brigade delivers bags of food 714-696-8488
  • Madison Elementary c/o Coast Hill Church, 1124 E Hobart Street, 5th Sunday 8:30am-9:30; 949-362-0079
  • Lowell Elementary c/o Coast Hill Church, 700 S Flower Street, 4th Saturday 8:30-9:30am; 949-362-0079
  • Southwest Community Center, 1601 West Second Street, hot meals noon Monday- Saturday must be consumed off site; food pantry M & W 9:30-11am; 543-8933
  • Orangewood Resource Center, 1575 East Seventeenth Street, M-F varying hours call 619-0257
  • Companerismo Rey, 940 West Wilshire Avenue, food pantry Tuesdays 5-7pm; 850-1952
  • Calvary Chapel – La Semilla, 1916 South Cypress Avenue, food pantry Tuesdays 4-6:30; 949-933-6525
  • Southwest Senior Center, 2201 West McFadden Avenue, Seniors 60 years and older, 2nd & 3rd Thursdays 8-10:30am . Call 714-647-6540 day before for intake.

GRAB-AND-GO SERVICE from SAUSD: Meals offered to all children 1-18 years.

DISTRIBUTION DAYS:
Monday, 11-1: Meals will be provided for Monday and Tuesday.
Wednesday, 11-1: Meals will be provided for Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday, 11-1: Meals will be provided.

LOCATIONS:

  • Esqueda Elementary, 2240 S Main St, Santa Ana
  • Monte Vista Elementary, 2116 W Monta Vista Ave, Santa Ana
  • Martin Elementary, 939 W. Wilshire Ave. Santa Ana
  • Madison Elementary, 1124 Hobart St, Santa Ana
  • Romero Cruz Academy, 2701 W. Fifth St., Santa Ana
  • Carr Intermediate, 2120 W Edinger Ave, Santa Ana
  • Mendez Intermediate, 2000 N Bristol St, Santa Ana
  • Sierra Preparatory Academy, 2021 North Grand Avenue, Santa Ana
  • Villa Intermediate, 1441 E Chestnut Ave, Santa Ana
  • Willard Intermediate, 1342 N Ross St, Santa Ana
  • Saddleback High, 2802 S Flower St, Santa Ana
  • Santa Ana High, 520 W Walnut St, Santa Ana
  • Segerstrom High, 2301 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana

Last Saturday April 11, “The Power of One Foundation” gave out food to thousands at Santa Ana College. Starting the 18th they’re doing the same at Mainplace Mall every Saturday.

3. North & West County

(in alphabetical order, all phone numbers 714 unless specified)

Again, HERE‘s a county-wide guide for free “grab-and-go” school lunches.

Brea

  • Christ Lutheran Food Pantry, 8082 Commonwealth, dates & times vary, call 529-2984
  • St Angela Food Pantry, 585 South Walnut Avenue, MWF 9-1 for Brea residents & Fullertonians from Imp. Hwy; 529-1821

Buena Park

  • Guidestone Church Food Pantry, 5600 Crescent Ave, TWTh 8pm-8:30pm, Sunday 11:15-11:45; 521-5882
  • Buena Park Senior Center, 8150 Knott Avenue, 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 10:15am; 236-3870
  • Buena Park Church of Christ, 7201 Walnut Avenue, Food Pantry 3rd Sunday 9-12; 523-1700
  • Jain Center Drive-thru Food Pantry, 8082 Commonwealth, Sundays 2:30-3:30; 213-448-7722
  • St Pius Food Pantry, 7691 Orangethorpe, Hours vary, call 814-1614

Costa Mesa

  • St Joachim Food Pantry, 1964 Orange Avenue, Saturdays sign-in by 8:30 am; 949-574-7400 x 397
  • Share Our Selves Food Pantry, 1550 Superior Avenue, M-F 949-270-2100
  • Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 West 19th Street, every Friday line up at 8:30am, 714-327-7550

Cypress

  • Cypress Senior Center, 9031 Grindlay Street, 2nd Wednesdays 9-11am; 229-2005
  • St Iraneus, 5201 Evergreen, 1st Sat 8:30-10 for anybody; 3rd Sat 8:30-10 for residents in parish boundaries, M-F 9-11 emergency; 826-0760

Fullerton

  • NEW (h/t Mayor Silva) M-F 11-1 for all Fullertonians under 18 – At all elementary and K-8 school sites; junior high students can go to local elementary; child must be present; you’ll get lunch for that day & breakfast for following day, click here
  • Pathways of Hope, 611 South Ford Avenue, M-F 1-2:30pm; 680-3691 x220
  • Fullerton Community Center Senior Grocery Program, 340 W. Commonwealth, 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 10:45-11:45; 738-6575
  • Heart of Downtown Food Bank, 223 East Wilshire Avenue, every other Sunday 1-2pm (April 19, May 3 & 17, etc); 526-2265
  • North OC Regional Health Foundation Food Distribution, 901 West Orangethorpe, 3rd Saturdays 1-3pm; 441-0411
  • New Wine Church Daily Bread, 1425 South Brookhurst, bread cart every day 6am, 526-0665
  • 7th Day Adventist Food Pantry, 2355 West Valencia Drive, Tuesdays 9:30-1; 525-4561
  • Faith Deliverance Food Pantry, 3800 West Commonwealth, Fri 2pm – bring bags, mask, gloves; 504-4503
  • EVFree Church, 2801 N. Brea Blvd, upstairs bldg A church office, Mon- Thur. 9-12 & 1-4; 529-5544
  • St. Philip Benizi SVdP Food Pantry, 235 S. Pine Dr,  Tuesdays 1-3 PM and Thursdays 9-11 AM; 871-3610
  • St Juliana’s SVdP Food Pantry, 1316 N Acacia Ave, Saturdays 9:00-11:30 AM; 879-1965 AM

Garden Grove

  • Christ Cathedral, 13280 Chapman Avenue, food pantry Thursdays 10-2; 282-3097
  • Village Bible Church, 12671 Buaro Street, drive-thru 2nd Saturday 7-8am; 537-0669
  • Helping Others Prepare For Eternity, 11022 Acacia Parkway, 1st Fridays 10-12; or emergency apt. at 539-4357
  • St Olaf Lutheran, 12432 Ninth Street, W & Th 10-12 & 1-3; Seniors 2nd & 4th Mondays 9-10:30am; call first 534-6450
  • St Anselm, 13091 Galway, food pantry Saturdays 11-12; 537-0604
  • Our Redeemer Food Pantry, 12301 Magnolia Street, Saturdays 9-12; 539-9541

Huntington Beach

  • NEW – HB Senior Center, Tue & Thu 11-12, 18041 Goldenwest St at Talbert – say hi to my son Dorian!
  • Community United Methodist Food Pantry, 6652 Heil, Fridays 12-2; 842-4461
  • First United Meth. Church, 2721 Delaware Street, 4th Saturdays 12-3; 536-3537
  • First Christian Church, 1207 Main St, TWTh 10-1, Sat 9-12; 536-2589

I hear that HB’s Ocean View School District is the only District in west OC to feed every child ages 1-18 no matter from where they hail, two meals per day.

La Habra

  • VCC The Gary Center, 201 South Harbor, Tuesdays 4-7pm; 562-264-6000
  • Rise Church at Gary Center, 341 Hillcrest Street, Thu 6-8pm; 562-697-4600
  • VCC The Gary Center, 341 South Hillcrest, Fri 8-11am, 562-266-8689
  • La Habra Community Resources, 350 South Hillcrest, M-F 12-2; 562-697-1199
  • La Habra Presbyterian – HIS Picnic, 951 N. Idaho, Sundays 1:15-3:30; 562-691-3296

Los Alamitos

  • We Care of Los Al, 3788 Cerritos Avenue, Tue, Thu, Fri 10-2 by appt only call 562-598-9790
  • Los Al Community Center, 10911 Oak Street, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 11:30-12:30, call first 562-430-1073

Orange

  • Cool Water Ministries, 515 E. Almond, 12:00 pm-1:30 pm Fourth Saturday of the month 949-292-6425
  • First Presb Church, 191 N. Orange St, 10:00 am-12:00 pm; 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Wednesday 538-2341
  • Main Place Christian Fellowship, 1909 East Quincy Avenue,Wednesdays at 9:00 am. 505-1734
  • Storehouse, North Orange Christian Church, 1001 E. Lincoln, M-F 1-5, 998-3181
  • Revive Covenant Church, 250 South Prospect Street, Tue & Thu 9-2, 633-6464
  • Iglesia Comunidad de Fe, 949-537-9399, delivers canned & fresh food
  • Cantlay/Catholic Charities, 2020 West Chestnut Avenue, groceries T-W-Th 7:30am-12; 347-9694
  • Ministerio Betesda, Sat 4-6pm, 1001 E Lincoln, Orange; 878-3335

Placentia

  • Placentia Senior Center – Senior Food Box, call 986-2332 for deliveries (to Placentia seniors)
  • Placentia Community Services Food Pantry, 900 South Melrose Street, emergency food: 8:30 am-8:00 pm Monday and Wednesday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, (Closed daily from 12:00 noon-1:00 pm); Bread: 9:00 am-10:00 am Monday-Wednesday; Commodities: 9:00 am until commodities run out, Second Friday of the month; Food Pantry: 9:00 am First and Third Thursday of the month; Call 986-2333 to verify

Stanton

  • Livingstone Food Pantry, 12362 Beach Boulevard, Suite 10, Tues to Fri 9-6, Sat 9-3; 248-9500

Tustin

  • Tustin Area Senior Center, Senior Grocery Program, 200 South C Street, Fridays 9am; 573-3340
  • Tustin Family & Youth Center, Food Pantry, 14722 Newport Avenue, 2nd Monday & 3rd Thursday 1-2pm; 573-3340
  • St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Wass Street, grocery bags Sundays 5:30-6; 544-3141
  • Salvation Army Tustin Ranch Corps, 10200 Pioneer, T-W-Th 1-4pm, drive-thru canned foods, produce and frozen goods.

Westminster

  • OC Community Service Center, Senior Grocery Program, 2nd & 4th Thursday 11-12; 372-3454
  • Westminster Family Resources Food Pantry, 7200 Plaza Street, Sigler Park; MWF 9-6, TTh 11-8pm; 903-1331
  • The Men With Vision Food Pantry, 13552 Goldenwest, Farmer’s Market 2nd & 4th Thursday 4-6pm; 476-0371
  • Hope Lutheran Food Pantry, 13841 Milton, Fridays 9-11; 895-3838

Yorba Linda

  • Yorba Linda Food For Families, 4848 Main Street, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6-8pm, 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesdays 10-12; 777-2646
  • YL Community Center Drive-Thru Food Distribution, 4501 Casa Loma Avenue, Thursdays 8:30-9:30am; 961-7181
  • Rose Drive Friends Food Pantry, 4221 Rose Drive, Wednesdays 4-5, Sat. 9-10am; 528-6496

4. South County

(in alphabetical order, all phone numbers 949 unless specified)

Again, HERE‘s a county-wide guide for free “grab-and-go” school lunches.

N.I.N. = Nothing In Newport (Am I wrong?)

Aliso Viejo

  • Coast Hills Church Office, 5 Pursuit, 1st & 3rd Satuday 8-10am; 362-0079

Dana Point

  • Family Assistance at San Felipe, 26010 Domingo, Fri 11-2, 492-8477
  • Dana Point Senior Center closed – call 496-4252 for Meals on Wheels and Helping Hands Food Distribution.

Irvine

  • Saddleback Church, 18842 Teller Ave, Tuesdays 10-12 & 6pm-8; Third Saturday 9-10; 609-8210
  • South County Outreach, food dist. by apt. only – 380-8144 x 207; leave message with name, phone, # in household.
  • Families Forward, 8 Thomas, drive-thru only M-F 10-2 (unless food runs out); 552-2727
  • Mariners Church Food Pantry, 5001 Newport Coast Drive, pre-bagged food items WThF 9-1; 769-8450

Laguna Beach

  • Laguna Food Pantry, 20652 Laguna Canyon Road, M-F 8-10:30am; 497-7121

Laguna Hills

  • Crossline Food Pantry, 23331 Moulton Parkway, Thu Fri Sun 11-1; 916-0250

Laguna Niguel

  • Mercy Warehouse at Vineyard, 27632 El Lazo, Suite A, Mon 4-6, Wed & Fri 12-2; 425-3787
  • Family Assistance at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian, 30071 Ivy Glen, Thu 1-1; 492-8477

Laguna Woods

  • Saddleback Church, 24111 Moulton Parkway, Clubhouse 7, Fourth Wednesday, 10-11; 609-8574

Lake Forest

  • Saddleback Church, 1 Purpose Dr, Tuesdays 10-3, Wednesdays 1-6, Thursdays 10-3, Saturdays 9-11; 609-8111

Mission Viejo

  • Saddleback College Food Pantry, 28000 Marguerite Parkway parking lot 1 next to Culinary Arts, 1st & 3rd Wed 10-11am; 582-4606

Rancho Santa Margarita

  • San Francisco Solano Food Pantry, 22082 Antonio Parkway, Saturdays 9-11am; 589-7767
  • Shepherd of the Hills, RSM Cares, 30605 Avenue de Las Flores, 1st & 3rd Wed 2-4:30pm; 714-348-3292

San Clemente

  • Saddleback Church, 1311 Calle Batido, Third Wed. 6pm-7:30, Fourth Saturday 9-11; 609-8665
  • Family Assistance Ministries Main Office, 1030 Calle Negocio, M-F 10-3; 492-8477
  • St Michael’s Society Food Pantry, 107 West Marquita, Mondays 3:30 pm; 366-9480

San Juan Capistrano

  • Saddleback Church, 29251 Camino Capistrano, Portables Units 11 & 12, Fourth Wednesdays, 9-11; 609-8700
  • Family Assistance at Community Presbyterian, 32202 Del Obispo, Wed 11-2; 492-8477

COMING UP:  How you can HELP if you have money, food, or time to volunteer! 

 


About Vern Nelson

Greatest pianist/composer in Orange County, and official political troubadour of Anaheim and most other OC towns. Regularly makes solo performances, sometimes with his savage-jazz band The Vern Nelson Problem. Reach at vernpnelson@gmail.com, or 714-235-VERN.