By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

January 5, 2012 -- Since its founding in 1981, thousands of people from the Santa Monica mountains to LAX have relied on the Westside Food Bank to provide local food pantries with much needed groceries.

But during tough economic times, more families are relying on food pantries to make ends meet, while normally generous donors are forced to scale back, according to pantry officials.

“We've seen an increase in number of donations,” said Genevieve Riutort, the food bank's director of development, who was the beneficiary of food banks growing up in the Bronx. “We have more people giving, but in smaller amounts.”

From right to left, President Barbara Whittenburg, Executive Director and Director of Development Genevieve Riutort in the Westside Food Bank's warehouse where all the food is stored until it is picked up by the various organizations. Photos by Jason Islas.

The combination of greater need and fewer donations poses a challenge for the food bank, which relies on the community for half its funding, either from individuals, small businesses in or around Santa Monica or congregations, said Executive Director Bruce Rankin.

“We expect this year to be as tough or tougher than the last,” Rankin said.

As the New Year begins and employment rates show little sign of improving, the Westside Food Bank has its work cut out. The staff of six, said President Barbara Whittenburg, “is dancing faster” to meet the growing need.

Approximately 100,000 people in the service area rely on food pantries at agencies and congregations the Westside Food Bank supplies.

Genevieve Riutort shows off a jumbo check from Spin Public Relations. These are the proceeds collected from the 2011 Santa Monica Public Crawl in mid December.

In Santa Monica, they include the Church on Pearl, the Ocean Park Community Center, St. Anne's Social Service, the Salvation Army on Fourth Street and the Delaware Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry.

Food collected or purchased by the food bank isn't limited to Santa Monica agencies. The St. Joseph Center in Venice also receives food from the Westside Food Bank, as do the SOVA Metro and SOVA West pantries and the Salvation Army in Inglewood, among others.

One of the Westside Food Bank's goals is to provide those in need with the opportunity to eat healthy, Whittenburg said, adding that good nutrition is especially important because, “about half our food goes to children."

“There's really no purpose to have a warehouse full of the equivalent of fast food,” said Whittenburg, as she pointed to the produce section of the Food Bank's warehouse, located in midtown Santa Monica, which is stocked with fresh produce, eggs and fruits.

“We spend at least $10,000 on produce a week,” said Rankin.

The Westside Food Bank accepts donations year-round at its office and its web site http://westsidefoodbankca.org.

The agency also holds food drives during the year. This spring, it will host its 17th annual phantom dinner, an event that asks participants to donate and stay at home.

The Hunger Walk, which takes place every year in November, is perhaps the most well-known of the Westside Food Bank's initiatives in Santa Monica.

And for the past three years, Kim Koury with Spin Public Relations Group, has organized the Santa Monica Pub Crawl between Christmas and Thanksgiving, with all proceeds benefiting the food bank.

Last year, the pub crawl raised close to $18,000.

Although cash donations allow the food bank to better leverage its funds by buying in bulk – $25 can provide 100 meals – food drives are equally important.

“When there are food drives, it involves children and it engages the community,” Rankin said.