For the past 37 years, Food Finders has been committed to reducing food waste and eliminating hunger while improving nutrition in food-insecure communities, including Long Beach.
The nonprofit has partnered with food donors to rescue edible food, reduce the environmental impact of food waste, and ensure food is used for intended purposes — feeding people, according to its website. Food Finders believes access to food is a fundamental right and that hunger is a matter of logistics, not scarcity.
This month, Food Finders will be hosting a community event in Long Beach to celebrate its 37th anniversary of reducing food waste and hunger.
“Food Finders is incredibly proud to celebrate 37 years of service alongside the community that has supported and shaped our mission from the very beginning,” Diana Lara, executive director of Food Finders, said in a written statement. “This milestone is a testament to the thousands of volunteers, donors, partners, and families who believe in a future where good food never goes to waste and everyone has access to nutritious food. We’re excited to honor our history, celebrate our impact, and look ahead to the work still to come.”
Approximately 38% of the United States food supply remains uneaten or unserved, according to the nonprofit. Diverting edible food from landfills, the nonprofit said, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves water, and protects cropland.
Food Finders rescued 15.6 million pounds of food that provided an estimated 13 million meals across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties in 2025, according to the nonprofit’s impact report from that year.
Food Finders’ programs are designed to provide immediate relief to the hunger crisis and foster a sense of community through volunteer engagement and educational initiatives, empowering individuals with knowledge about nutrition and healthy eating habits. By addressing both social and environmental challenges, the organization strives to create a healthier, more sustainable future for all, according to its website.
People receive assorted food items on Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022, at a new Food Finders distribution hub at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
People receive assorted food items on Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022, at a new Food Finders distribution hub at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
People line up to receive fresh and healthy food items on Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022, at a new Food Finders distribution hub at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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People receive assorted food items on Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022, at a new Food Finders distribution hub at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Those programs include Food Rescue, a year-round program that connects donors with surplus food to Food Finders’ network agencies, providing meals and pantry distributions to low-income and food-insecure individuals and households; and Food 4 Kids, a program that supports 47 schools in the Long Beach Unified School District to provide over 1,700 weekend meal boxes to families facing food insecurity monthly.
“Providing these services is vital to our mission, not only in Long Beach, but across every community we serve,” Lara said. “That said, Long Beach holds a special place in our story – it’s where Food Finders began 37 years ago, and it remains the heart of our operations,” Lara said.
Food Finders will be hosting its “Rooted in Community” event to celebrate the growth and ensure the nonprofit can continue its mission of rescuing food, reducing hunger and improving nutrition in food-insecure communities.
The free community event will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave.
The event will include community resources, activities for children, small bites, and a food distribution beginning at 10 a.m.
This park is the home of Food Finder’s monthly Community Marketplace, a program that provides fresh, healthy food directly to families who need it most, Lara said. West Long Beach is considered a food desert, meaning residents have limited access to affordable groceries, alongside a high concentration of seniors who rely on consistent food support.
“Holding the event here ensures we’re celebrating right in the heart of a community where our services make a meaningful difference,” Lara added.
April is also the fourth anniversary of the Food HUB at Admiral Kidd Park, which offers weekly perishable food and has become a vital resource for local residents.
Residents can volunteer at events, food distributions, become a “food rescue hero,” or help make weekly boxes for the “Food 4 Kids” program; donate to help rescue more food and expand programs at foodfinders.org/donate; partner with the organization as a food donor, agency or community organization; or attend local events and stay engaged throughout the year.
“Every action, big or small, helps us rescue more food, feed more families, and rescue waste across Southern California,” Lara said.