CONNECT
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2021 Grants Challenge

#Hashtag Lunchbag across Los Angeles

Hashtag Lunchbag is seeking support in order to grow the movement across Los Angeles, helping to increase the number of meals provided, in neighborhoods across the city, building a greater awareness among a diverse group of volunteers in a safe and socially distanced setting, with a more extended geographical outreach.

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In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?

County of Los Angeles

City of Los Angeles

What is the problem that you are seeking to address?

There are over 66,000 people experiencing homelessness throughout the County of Los Angeles, & upwards of 32,000 people experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles. The Living Through Giving Foundation is committed to reaching all Angelenos experiencing homelessness via our #HashtagLunchbag program, to provide meals throughout the course of one year, with the help of this grant.

Describe the project, program, or initiative that this grant will support to address the problem identified.

#HashtagLunchbag hosts a monthly event in which we build and provide nutritious meals and notes of encouragement to fellow Angelenos experiencing homelessness, and connect residents of the city to volunteer opportunities. The socially distanced monthly #HashtagLunchbag events will strengthen and connect the Angeleno community. In addition to addressing food insecurity and providing meals to people experiencing homelessness; the program also inspires volunteers to learn more about the social crisis of homelessness, raises awareness on solutions to address food insecurity and homelessness, and motivates volunteers to serve. #HashtagLunchbag connects Angelenos.

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 48,000

Indirect Impact: 1,200

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

Our impact is to address food insecurity, feed a large number of people experiencing homelessness in the LA area, and connect LA residents through a fun and interactive experience. Collectively, #HashtagLunchbag inspires and empowers the community to further implement their service driven mindset and increase their community impact of giving forward in their lives, outside of our events. We seek to bring awareness to our community, to inspire fellow Angelenos to live with a standard of good, unique in its own right. Our goal is to connect Angelenos through inspiring and empowering give-back initiatives, using food as our catalyst for change, hoping to change the hearts and minds of residents of Los Angeles, one lunchbag at a time.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

At each event, we maintain records of the number of meals distributed, the number of volunteers who participate, and the amount of donations received to help cover the cost of food and supplies. In Los Angeles, on average, we create and distribute approximately 1,600 meals each month. Our social media networks reach tens of thousands of individuals who engage with us. Many folks have expressed interest in joining events, with the hope that meals would be distributed in areas near their own homes, such as beach cities, mid city, Hollywood, Koreatown, and around downtown Los Angeles. This current time is unique, however, in that we will request volunteers to RSVP in advance, and to the nature of their participation, so that we do our part in keeping this initiative safe and socially distanced.

Which of the CONNECT metrics will you impact?​

Social and emotional support

Public arts and cultural events

Volunteerism