The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Pride Pantry is operating from a space at 1111 Las Palmas Ave. (photo courtesy of the Los Angeles LGBT Center)

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Pride Pantry opened in a new space on Sept. 3 at the center’s Anita May Rosenstein Campus in Hollywood.

Bags of fresh produce and boxes of dry goods are being distributed each week from a building at 1111 Las Palmas Ave. The pantry is located one block east of its initial location on McCadden Place.

Launched shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the pantry has been a lifesaver for people with food insecurity, center officials said.

“It’s really a godsend,” said Mimi Schneider, 80. “I have no other way of getting enough food and vegetables.”

Throughout the pandemic, Schneider has been taking two buses from her apartment in Hollywood to the center to pick up groceries each week.

“I’m on Social Security so there’s very little for me,” she added. “This is really terrific, and I can’t thank the center enough for thinking of us elder citizens.”

Every Thursday, volunteers and staff members fill bags and boxes for distribution on Fridays. Volunteers will bring the food to people arriving in cars, and walk-ups are also welcome.

Angela Echeverria, the center’s associate director of facilities, is excited about upgrades at the Las Palmas building, including a freshly-painted rainbow-colored fence.

“We were very, very busy doing this move, but there have been so many volunteers who have been helping us,” Echeverria said. “We could not do it without them.”

Volunteer Christina Di Gioia said the food pantry is an important part of the community.

“I’ve created lifelong friendships, and I feel great about being able to help in a really tangible way in the community,” Di Gioia said. “There’s a real need right now for this food and these services. A lot of the people come back every week, so I’ve been able to get to know them, and they talk about their situations and their lives.”

More than 2,000 boxes and bags of food are distributed monthly.

“The pantry has been an invaluable resource for seniors during the pandemic, not only in terms of food insecurity, but also from a safety perspective,” said Michael McFadden, associate director of programs for senior services at the center. “They don’t have to go out and put themselves at risk in public spaces like a grocery store. Folks have really appreciated and relied on it.”

For information, visit lalgbtcenter.info/getfood.