AYC Receives $24,000 From Walmart Foundation To Feed Low-income API Families

Walmart grants $81,000 total to support the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Children and Families Nutrition and Food Assistance Program through the Asian Pacific Community Fund

On June 29, the Walmart Foundation State Council and the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) announced a $24,000 grant to support the Emergency Food Program at the Asian Youth Center (AYC).

Walmart Foundation gave a total of $81,000 in grant funding to APCF for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Children and Families Nutrition and Food Assistance Program. As a community foundation, APCF distributed the funds to three of its partner organizations to provide assistance and distribute 40,000 pounds of food to 4,800 people in the next year. In addition to AYC, grant funds were awarded to Korean American Family Services and Koreatown Youth & Community Center.

Since 2014, Walmart Foundation has committed to focusing its efforts on creating a more affordable, accessible, sustainable and healthier food system across the globe, starting in local communities.

"AYC is so grateful for the support of the Walmart Foundation and APCF," expressed Michelle Freridge, AYC's Executive Director. "This grant will support the purchase of a refrigerator and shelving units for our Emergency Food Program so we can store and distribute more nutritious and familiar foods, and feed more hungry families. I also want to take this time to recognize Florence Lin, our Community Relations Manager, for overseeing this program."

AYC's Emergency Food Program has provided culturally-appropriate food to low-income, immigrant, and at-risk families in need for over 14 years.. The population in the West San Gabriel Valley, where efforts of AYC's Emergency Food Program are focused, has a high concentration of low-income API communities, with high rates of recent immigrants. Due to various barriers, such as not speaking English, difficulty finding or maintaining employment, and unfamiliarity with American food and culture, these families face high risk of food insecurity. AYC's Emergency Food Program provides short-term hunger relief for families, so each person in the household can lead a healthy, active life.

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Media coverage of this story:
1. Sing Tao Daily Newspaper
2. PRLog