Food justice initiatives

Free Produce Distribution, Wednesdays

Since March 2020, St. Stephen’s Hollywood, St. Barnabas Eagle Rock, and Seeds of Hope LA have been able to provide weekly Food Distributions in efforts to address and alleviate the growing food insecurity in Los Angeles. #FeedingHungryHearts in the spirit of service, and giving unconditional love has been the driving force in being able to feed hundreds of families each week. As the need for fresh, healthy food continues to grow, we find ourselves even more motivated to serve.

Every Wednesday at St. Stephen’s, we, along with wonderful volunteers, prepare boxes of fruits and veggies from 8AM-10:30AM and distribute them from 10:30AM-11:30AM to individuals and families in need.

You can support our efforts to maintain this service by volunteering with us on Wednesdays, donating and sharing this information with your community.

California Climate Action Corps

The partnership between the California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) and St. Be’s food justice initiative focuses on sustainable food practices and addressing food insecurity. The primary mission of CCAC fellows is to address and ameliorate the effects of climate change. One way of doing so is by rescuing and diverting food waste from landfills. St. Be’s food justice initiative complements this by offering practical solutions such as weekly food distributions and composting to reduce food waste and alleviate food insecurity in the community. Furthermore, St. Be’s community garden space promotes urban greening, providing an opportunity to grow food in an environmentally sustainable way. This collaboration enhances both environmental sustainability and food security efforts.

For inquiries, please email Cameron Tremain at ctremain004@gmail.com .

Produce Dehydration Program

The Produce Dehydration Program is a food justice initiative that began in March 2020 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Hollywood, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a small distribution of 20 bags of fresh produce to out-of-work parishioners quickly grew into a large-scale operation that now provides 4–5 tons of produce weekly to over 600 families in Hollywood and Northeast Los Angeles.

The program was born from the realization that food insecurity in the U.S. is less about the availability of food and more about access and logistics. While millions go hungry each year, billions of pounds of edible food are wasted. This program seeks to bridge that gap by transforming rescued, perishable produce into shelf-stable, nutrient-rich foods that can reach people before they spoil.

The initiative focuses on two main product lines: dehydrated soup mixes and dried fruit and vegetable snacks. These products are created based on the weekly supply of surplus produce, making the process flexible, efficient, and waste-reducing. Dehydrated foods retain their nutritional value and are ideal for communities where access to fresh food is limited.

Beyond fighting hunger, the program addresses environmental concerns by diverting food from landfills, where it would contribute to harmful methane emissions. It also provides hands-on volunteer opportunities for community members, who help sort, prepare, and package the food. This not only supports the food system but fosters skill development and engagement.

Serving more than 3,500 individuals annually—many of whom are elderly or first-generation immigrants—the program delivers practical aid with dignity and innovation. Looking forward, it aims to expand its reach and serve as a replicable model of sustainable food rescue that nourishes bodies, protects the planet, and empowers communities.

For inquiries, please contact Rec. Jaime Edwards-Acton at hopeinhollywood@gmail.com .