As food banks and missions across California struggle to serve families facing economic pressures and the homeless population, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through its humanitarian and welfare program, has delivered a semi-truck full of food to several missions in Los Angeles.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Midnight Mission, Los Angeles Mission and The Dream Center Mission accepted the food on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in collaboration with the America250 initiative, which celebrates the 250th birthday of the United States. The Church is making 250 food deliveries nationwide over the next seven months.
Food donations include peanut butter, rice, oats, beans, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, flour and other items.
The Los Angeles donation of 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food comes at a critical time. Researchers estimate that one in four Los Angeles residents is food insecure. Low-income households experience much higher food insecurity — around 35%–41% — significantly above pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, in the 2025 annual homeless count, Los Angeles County’s unhoused population was estimated at more than 72,000 people. Between the three Downtown Los Angeles missions, more than 50,000 meals are served per week.
“One million people a year walk through our doors needing a hot meal and a place to enjoy it,” said David Brown of Midnight Mission. “A delivery like this changes what we can do for the preparation and planning of the meals and the quality of the food. We can plan in advance, making the quality of the meals better, giving our patrons the opportunity to eat a hot meal, sit down, and feel a sense of home and care. It will have a direct impact right now.”
“It is a huge deal to get this amount of food,” claims Donny Irman of the Dream Center. “This delivery will keep us running for three to four months. But it’s not just the amount of food; it’s the quality of the nonperishable items that is unsurpassed. Typically, we get expired or nearly expired food, but [The] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints delivers the best of the best, which means the quality of our meals is better, and it lasts longer. It’s a gold mine for us and those we serve.”
“We know that the homeless population of Los Angeles is large and needs assistance and care,” said Martin Furtak, a Church spokesperson. “When you look at a semi-truck full of food, you’re really looking at thousands of quiet acts of kindness from Church members who give so others don’t go hungry. This is how we try to live our faith — by showing up in very practical ways for our neighbors.”
