Mayor Bass Suggests a $1.5 million Distribution for Groceries

A passing report revealed Los Angeles has $1.5 million available, in the coming days, for residents who meet the qualifications:

GIVEN (Grocery Initiative for Vital Emergency Needs) was established in December 2020 to provide direct cash assistance to low-income families during the holiday season. It is a program of the private Mayors Fund an nonprofit organization.

It expanded in December 2021 via Angeleno Connect Card, allowing recipients to access a myriad of other benefits.

In order to qualify for the GIVEN program, families had to meet the following three conditions:

• Reside in the City of Los Angeles
• Have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income or roughly $57,000/year
• Demonstrate hardship through suffered illness, loss of employment or some other negative factor due to the COVID-19 pandemic

December 2020: 

• Funds distributed through L.A. City Family Source Centers
• *Mayors Fund for L.A. participated in distribution
  • $300/family
  • 12,572 $300 gift cards were distributed
  • Total distributed $3 million
  • 35% of the card money was spent in grocery stores while
  • 50& of the funds were spent in grocery stores or restaurants

November 2021: 

• Partnership with LA Community Investment for Families Department
  • 5,000 $300 gift cards were distributed
  • Total distributed: $1.5 million
  • 79% of funds were spent at businesses specializing in essential items such as food and drug stores
  • Funds were distributed via Angeleno Connect Card, allowing recipients to access a myriad of other benefits. Learn more at: https://www.lacity.org/AngelenoConnect
  • *The funding was provided by 13,000 Angelinos via the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles   https://mayorsfundla.org/donate-now/  Deidre Lind, President and CEO 

 The LA City GIVEN website suggests these statistics for 2020/2021:

• 15,221 families served
• $4.4m distribute
• Partners:
  • FamilySource Centers
  • Communities Investment in Families Department
  • City of Los Angeles (CIFD)
  • * Note: no mention of the Mayors Fund

The Mayor's Fund is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization, NOT a legislative directive or expenditure, organized 6/9/2014.   MFLA-2013-990-FINAL.pdf (mayorsfundla.org)

"We have raised more than $126 million to support more than 80 programs across City departments that have benefited millions of Angelenos. The highlights of that work are included in this report."

The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles launched the Angeleno Campaign to provide direct cash assistance to Angelenos most in need and suffering from the impacts of COVID-19. Angeleno Card - Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles (mayorsfundla.org)

An investigative report in May 2021 reveals the nuances of the Mayors Fund, allowing for donor's name to be hidden & the fact Mayor Garcetti solicited funds to accomplish what the City Council would not legislate..    Donors to L.A. Mayor's Fund keep their identities secret - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

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