By Dianne Anderson

In one hand and out the other is the reality for Long Beach Community Table in getting fresh food out to 7,000 families a week, all while trying to pay their electric bill of $5,000 a month, enough to keep the food from spoiling.

Kristin Cox wonders how many people she could feed with that extra $60,000 each year.

Fingers crossed, she is praying for relief with a recent communication with someone at the city of Long Beach. She hopes something pans out soon because the costs are enormous.

“These are the big commercial 3-door refrigerators, we hold about 40-50,000 pounds of food a week,” said Cox, Executive Director and Founder of the Long Beach Community Table. “Our electric bill is so high, I can put in a fridge I can’t afford to plug in, but it’s impossible for us to keep that much food cold and keep it edible.”

Week after week, her agency offers ongoing free custom grocery bags at their open pantry, located at 3311 E 59th St., Long Beach.

When the Trump Administration came in, almost all government grants were cut that had supported many services that are now switched more toward foundation and corporate grants, usually by invitation only. Instead of competing with 20 people, she said it’s like crabs in a barrel with 2,500 other nonprofits vying for funds.

What’s worse, many city and area programs look to her for food, but she can’t catch a break on the electric bill. The big challenge is keeping the refrigerators running.

About six weeks ago, she was sure they’d have to shut their doors because the government grants weren’t coming in.

But with her background in politics, she also saw the writing on the wall eight years ago.

“We knew we were headed in this direction. We just keep our nose to the grindstone to bring in enough money to keep our doors open and keep feeding people,” she said, adding there was more than enough need and opportunity to serve local Long Beach.

In 2023, city leaders addressed the West Long Beach Promise proposal, citing the area is mostly home to people of color, facing terrible health outcomes. Westside residents live, on average, 14 years less than people in other parts of the city.

“There’s plenty of problems right here in Long Beach. We have a lot of health and wealth problems and the Westside of Long Beach is right near the refineries and the poorest area,” she said. “We started going over there to people sleeping on benches, already slipping through the cracks of society.”

Food deserts are why low-income kids are not getting proper breakfast or lunch, and she said it isn’t the mother’s fault. Areas of need have the worst processed foods, and nothing is affordable.

“There’s not enough money and crappy food is cheaper than good food. Then they’d have a class or test at two in the afternoon and they’d bomb it because of the sugar crash,” she said.

The majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. According to 2023 USDA data, 47.4 million people were food insecure, which was before the current crisis.

She is sad to think how people who look down on others are not aware they could be next.

“It’s usually caused by catastrophic medical, they end up living in a car [and socially isolated],” she said. “That’s one of the biggest causes of mental illness. Long after you’re already homeless the substance abuse and mental illness starts. A lot of people think it’s the other way around.”

During her own stint with homelessness, local anti-poverty advocate Eloise Parker vowed that if God brought her through it, she would give back. She said He gave her clear instructions on what He wanted her to do, and how to do it, and so she did.

It’s hard to watch people sleeping under bridges and along the riverbed. Her nonprofit turns donations, blankets, and purchased items into immediate help for the unhoused, for the young adults and the elderly.

“We’re just trying to pull all our resources we possibly can and generally still come together as an org and benefit others,” said Parker, founder of GP (God’s People) Care Packages and Blankets of Love.

As she gears up for Thanksgiving, she is looking to accept whatever donations the community can give back for those in need at Christmas, and it’s cold outside.

On November 15, an outreach event for the unhoused is still seeking volunteers and support.

Love Beyond Autism Foundation Inc. is working in partnership with GP Care Packages and Blankets of Love to distribute food, hygiene kits, blankets, and other essentials. The Community Day of Giving Long Beach runs from 8:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. at 412 E. Broadway, Long Beach.

Most of it comes down to housing, and Parker said most people can’t afford to live.

“If you don’t have three times the income for rent, it’s hard for a single person unless you have three sources. Rent alone is ridiculous. They’re paying $1,000 per bedroom,” she said.

She is now in her 11th year for their Christmas event, the second year serving Thanksgiving. At their brick-and-mortar location, they provide clothing, blankets, hygiene items, snacks, and nonperishables on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Compared to previous years, Parker has seen a significant increase in need.

“We’re seeing more and more it’s not just young people, it’s elderly people as well. Visibly, even here at our location Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and we’re here only four hours, we are getting 15 to 20 each day,” she said. “There are a lot of people in need.”

In other areas of Long Beach, there is still time to come out for a free turkey for those who register and show up early, or at least get the fixings to go with a turkey. For those who can’t cook or don’t want to cook, a free turkey dinner is open to all.

On Saturday, November 16, The Long Beach Realtist Association is hosting its first-ever “Together We Give Thanksgiving Community Free Event” in partnership with Grocery Outlet and supported by the Port of Long Beach, City National Bank, and U.S. Bank. The event takes place from noon to 3:00 p.m., located at 1340 East 7th Street.

There, 200 local families will receive Thanksgiving grocery vouchers, enjoy live music, line dancing, and family fun. Local officials and community leaders are expected to attend. One registration per household is allowed, and participants must be present with an ID matching their registration name to receive a voucher. Registration is free but required.

Pools of Hope is hosting a Special Thanksgiving Food Pantry on Wednesday, November 26 at 1:00 p.m., with the pantry open to the community for free groceries, including eggs, meat, vegetables, and other holiday-meal essentials. That event is located at California Aquatic Therapy and Wellness Center, Inc., 6801 Long Beach Blvd.

For those who are still hungry after the holiday, Christian Outreach in Action (COA) is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Feast on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 515 E 3rd St., Long Beach, CA 90802. The whole community is invited to just show up with the family and bring their appetite, no registration required. Following the meal, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., COA will also offer free “Blessing Bags” filled with groceries, both cooking and non-cooking options, available to anyone in need.

For information on food distribution, see https://www.longbeachcommunitytable.com/events

To volunteer for LBCT Open Pantry, please email LBCTvolunteers@gmail.com

For more on COA outreach, see https://www.coalongbeach.org/thanksgiving

Other ongoing food help is also available at several food banks in the city. For an extensive list of dates and times, see https://longbeach.gov/mayor/news/food-resources/

Long Beach Realtist Association, see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/together-we-give-thanksgiving-community-event-tickets-1788111482579

For other resources during the federal shutdown, see https://211la.org/shutdown-food-resources