Cultivating a Community Care Hub

Community safety

South LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

South Los Angeles communities consistently rank as some of the least healthy communities in California, scoring in the lowest quartile of the Healthy Places Index. Our zip code of 90007, where Mercado la Paloma is located, scores as more healthy than just 1.7% of communities in California. A wide range of contributing factors, including decades of disinvestment, displacement, high poverty rates, high rates of environmental pollution, lack of healthcare access, and slum housing conditions have created multifaceted barriers to healthy living conditions. The lack of safe, inclusive, and culturally affirming gathering places contributes to social isolation and marginalization. To effectively address these conditions and uplift the health and human rights of our community, we are committed to fostering more complete and community-led food, resource, and service distributions located in a trusted community space.

FEAST and ECH will partner to uplift health equity through weekly food and resource distributions that leverage community-based partnerships to more fully address social determinants of health. In collaboration with Esperanza Community Housing and their Promotores de Salud, as well as other trusted partners, FEAST will offer 42 weeks of the Community Hub and two special events to celebrate World Day of Social Justice in February and Public Health Awareness Month in April, benefitting 4160 residents.
A consistent monthly schedule will ensure community members know what to expect and can plan accordingly. In addition to receiving the below services, participants will take home a 10-12 lb bag of fresh produce.

Calendar example:
1st Wednesday – Enrollment assistance for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and Medically Tailored Meals programs
2nd Wednesday – Free health screenings (e.g., blood pressure, glucose, BMI)
3rd Wednesday – Legal assistance (e.g., tenants’ rights, immigration support)
4th Wednesday – Rotating wellness or resource topic chosen by community input (e.g., financial literacy, art therapy, meditation)
What makes this project unique is FEAST will go beyond providing food as a basic need to connect residents to other support resources available in the community. Activities will take place in a culturally inclusive space to foster a sense of belonging. This project will increase the relevance and vitality of this community hub.

Currently the food distribution program provides 600 lbs of groceries to 30 families attending, with a 35% repeat rate. With additional services and events, we expect to grow our reach to 50 families weekly and increase the repeat rate to 45%. These services also benefit the 135 food businesses employees who have difficulty accessing health and social services due to busy work schedules.
This collaboration and Community Care Model, together with other nonprofits, will activate the Mercado’s community room as a designated and vibrant space for wrap-around services. Families will feel seen, supported, and more connected to each other and to care. The result will be an increase of awareness and/or utilization of services.
In the long term, the Community Care Model will be a blueprint for building safety and health through belonging. By reducing barriers, fostering collaboration, and addressing root causes of harm, we aim to improve the long term health outcomes for South LA residents.