How a Norwalk Community Stood Up Together In Response To Food Insecurity During The Pandemic
Food insecurity affects 1 in 9 households in America. In 2019, approximately 35 million Americans faced food insecurity. However, Feeding America projected that by 2021, this number had risen to 42 million due to the pandemic.
“I think that if it's something we need to live, to survive, to thrive then it should certainly be considered a human right,” says Nina, who established Norwalk’s Food Not Bombs chapter. “There is no reason for anyone to go hungry.”
Food Not Bombs is a volunteer-based mutual aid organization dedicated to providing food to communities worldwide. With chapters spread across America, including in the suburbs of Los Angeles, the organization's reach is extensive.
Nina's inspiration came from her time volunteering with the Los Angeles chapter. It became evident to her that her local community also needed this support.
“We throw away 40% of our food in the US. This is food that could have easily been diverted or given to folks for free,” Nina observes. “There just aren't enough systems or care in place to get that job done.”
Balancing work and school, Nina remains committed to giving back to her city. Along with her mother Linda and several volunteers, she helps distribute food every Sunday in the Norwalk area. Since launching the Norwalk chapter in January 2021, they have distributed thousands of meals.
“I really didn't think that it would get to this so quickly. I thought it was gonna take a really long time,” Nina admits. “But there were a lot of people that were really interested in helping, and there was a definite need.”
In their garage, one can find individual containers of freshly made spaghetti, sealed bags of chopped fruit, and PB&J sandwiches. Linda reminisces about her time volunteering on Skid Row with her children, where they frequently served burritos. She recalls how people often asked for more variety.
With this in mind, Linda ensures that the food offerings are diverse. She often takes on the cooking herself, aiming to provide something “different” each time. However, she emphasizes that this is not a solitary effort.
Nina highlights the support from other mutual aid organizations and nonprofits, such as Heart of Whittier. Joy of Sharing, for instance, provides 75 meals each week, while Hathaway Ranch in Santa Fe Springs donates produce that might otherwise be discarded, including dairy, bread, and other items. Any remaining food is given to the ranch's goats.
“It’s a community effort all around,” Nina notes.
The chapter benefits from a steady stream of volunteers, including Zach and Amy Gatto. Despite their 9-to-5 jobs, they find time to contribute.
“I think it's immoral that we as a society choose to let people starve if they don't have the money to pay for it,” Zach Gatto argues. “When we clearly have the resources to feed, house, make sure everybody gets water.”
The impact of the pandemic is still felt today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported high unemployment rates in California, and food insecurity in America has risen to 42 million people, with 1 in 8 experiencing food hardship.
Zach believes the government has “mismanaged” its response to the pandemic, stating, “The people are filling in those spots where the government has failed.”
Amy Gatto was moved to action by both the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s murder. She felt compelled to act, realizing, “Something needs to be done, someone needs to do something.”
Since then, Zach and Amy have become deeply involved in their community and mutual aid efforts, hoping to inspire others to do the same.
“Time is the most valuable thing that I can give to try and right that problem with the world,” Zach says. “I personally believe that we need to do other things to try and fix the bigger issues. But mutual aid is really good for immediate problem-solving.”
The Norwalk chapter offers both local pick-up and distribution services. Neighbors can collect produce from their garage, and volunteers distribute food around the city and at local encampments.
“There’s nothing really dangerous about a bunch of tents,” Zach remarks. “It's just like a national park where there’s a bunch of people camping. It’s just that, but in a city.”
Nina encourages anyone who sees a need in their community to take action and not be deterred by fear.
“It’s supposed to be mutual aid,” Nina emphasizes. “It’s not supposed to be one-sided. So hopefully more people will come out and build these systems of community trust and community safety.”
A shared sentiment among the Norwalk team is that their community is their primary motivator.
“We were actually thinking about moving out of Norwalk,” Linda shares. “But now I actually know my neighbors,” she adds.
And in return, her neighbors know her. This mutual aid effort demonstrates that anyone can take the initiative to support their community.
“Just do it,” Nina advises. “It may start small, but it will spiral into something bigger.”
She affirms that mutual aid will remain a part of her life even after the pandemic. “It’s a lifestyle,” Nina reiterates.
Zach echoes similar sentiments.
“What a lot of mutual aid groups do is we don't turn anyone away. If they’re asking for food, they must need food,” he says. “And the other part of it is if they take food from us and see that there are people trying to do good in the world, that may… inspire them to do good in the world [too].”