50+ Tons of Free Food Products Being Delivered to Local Families

Six weeks ago, the New York Times was quoting sources that farmers were dumping as many as 3.7 million gallons of milk each day and that a single east coast chicken processor was smashing 750,000 unhatched eggs every week. Meanwhile, millions of Americans were unemployed with many being deprived of food.

Thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and distributor Rich Chicks, the problem is being resolved locally with more than 50 tons of food going to local non-profit organizations, starting yesterday. The first of 3,500 boxes of chicken, pork and cheese products weighing approximately ten pounds each will be distributed free at The Grand Event Center, 4101 E. Willow St. in Long Beach.

The USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is planning to spend $3 billion this year to prevent food going to waste that normally gets consumed at K-12 schools, restaurants and hotels, many closed due to the pandemic crisis since March.

“The Food Box program nationally is distributing fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy liquids and solids, and cooked pork and chicken,” stated Neil Kinney, president of Gardena-based Rich Chicks. With six plants nationwide, Rich Chicks has been a principal supplier of foods to schools. A separate entity operated by Kinney provides food products globally to the U.S. Military.

Dan D’Sa, vice president of The Grand Event Center, is coordinating local distribution with non-profit organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Boys and Girls Club, ChildNet and the Long Beach Education Foundation. During the pandemic, The Grand has been giving back to the community by partnering with Sumer Temple of Don Temple Enterprises to distribute free food, including 1,200 meals given to the Long Beach Police Department last month.

Temple said that donations have also been made to the Long Beach Rescue Mission, the AIDS Food Store and the Community Action Team.

Organizations seeking to participate in the Farmers to Families Food Box program should contact Dan D’Sa at The Grand, (562) 426-0555.