On Monday, November 25, the Mountain View School District’s Family Center hosted its eighth public Food Pantry event, marking the largest distribution in its short history with over 5,000 pounds of food provided to the community. This milestone was achieved through an ongoing partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank and the unwavering dedication of volunteers and staff.

The event served nearly 300 households–comprising almost 1,300 individuals–offering fresh produce, beans, rice, potatoes, milk, chicken, turkey, pork chops, and even powdered milk for families without access to a refrigerator. Since the beginning of the school year, the Food Pantry has distributed over 12,000 pounds of food to an average of nearly 700 individuals at each event, reflecting the District’s ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity in the community.

Priscilla Figueroa, Family Center Director, reflected on the day’s success: “Today’s event was our biggest one yet. It was a true team effort, with support from some of our District partners, such as Think Together, Herald Christian, LA Care, our teachers, staff, and their families. It fills your heart to be able to provide so much before Thanksgiving.”

Among the volunteers was Bernadette Dincin, a 7th and 8th-grade teacher at Mountain View’s Monte Vista School, who brought her two sons to help. “I wanted to bring my boys out here to start the Thanksgiving week off right,” Denson shared. “Since they’ve never really had to go without, I wanted them to give their time to a community that needs some help.”

Her older son, a 17-year-old senior in high school, reflected on the experience: “It was fun to hand food out and see people smile. I handed out cereal, cheese, and berries for three hours. It’s meaningful to give back.” The younger son, a 7th-grader, added: “I felt good donating food to people who need it for Thanksgiving. I passed out rice, beans, and packaged potatoes—I wasn’t bored once!”

The day wasn’t without challenges. When Director Figueroa was advised that there was a last minute issue with her food delivery that day, David Cuevas from the District Warehouse worked quickly to ensure the delivery of all 5,000 pounds of food just before the event started at 2 p.m.

The Mountain View School District extends its heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers and partners who made this event possible, demonstrating the power of community during the holiday season. 

The Family Center will host two more events this month on December 12 and 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you or your organization would like to volunteer at a future Food Pantry event, please contact the Mountain View School District Family Center at 626-652-4077 or familyengagement@mtviewschools.net.