One in four households in Los Angeles County, or about 832,000 households, struggle with food insecurity, according to a new report from the USC Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR). The findings highlight how rising costs and shrinking support systems are leaving low-income families without enough to eat.
The problem is visible in Koreatown, where hundreds line up at Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Boulevard every Wednesday and Friday morning for free groceries distributed in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. When a reporter visited on August 29, more than 200 people were already waiting an hour before the food distribution began. Those in line included Korean Americans, Hispanics, and African American residents. At the front, Richa Ricardo said he had been waiting since 5 a.m.
The church has worked with food banks for 40 years, but demand often outpaces supply. Niambi Rendon, the church’s operations manager, said food sometimes runs out so quickly they must close early. “On average, 500 people come each day,” she said. “With rising insurance premiums and higher living costs, more residents are being pushed to the edge, and many are at risk of skipping meals.”
On that day, volunteers handed out watermelon, melon, tomatoes, celery, and canned beans. By 10 a.m., the fruit was gone, leaving late arrivals empty-handed. Chris Kang (74) said he often comes for food assistance because grocery prices have soared. “For seniors like me, this really helps,” he said. Jacqueline Quitoa said she lost her job recently and began coming two months ago. “The food I get here lasts three to four days,” she said. “Without this help, feeding my two daughters would be impossible.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index for groceries rose about 3.4% over the past year as of July 2025. The USC CESR report found that 41% of low-income households in LA County face food insecurity, close to the level at the start of the pandemic in 2020 (42%). For 2025, the federal poverty line is $32,150 in annual income for a family of four. Volunteer Angela Levy (64) said it is rewarding to help but painful to see so many in need. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “The line keeps getting longer.”
Conditions may worsen soon. In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA), which includes the largest-ever cut to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). About 3 million households in California are expected to be affected. The California Association of Food Banks warned in a statement, “Food banks cannot replace SNAP. These cuts will create an impossible gap, and millions of households could be forced into hunger.”
Currently, Immanuel Presbyterian Church distributes food every Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesdays feature fresh produce from Food Forward, while Fridays supply shelf-stable items from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Anyone can receive food by providing their name, household size, and ZIP code, regardless of immigration status.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
