Helping Local Communities Through Partnerships: The Long Beach Food Coalition

For the Long Beach Food Coalition, providing food to people in need has always been about making sure nobody is turned away. Led by Dr. Ellisa Alvarez and her assistant Sam, the organization runs a “no barriers” program, meaning anyone facing food insecurities is welcomed without any judgment.   

“Everyone deserves access to food”  

Dr. Ellisa has helped grow the organization into a support system for hundreds of people facing food insecurity across the city.   

When families in her community lost access to food assistance, Dr. Ellisa posted on Facebook offering to cook meals for anyone who was affected. In the first week, she made nearly 300 meals. These meals were cooked entirely out of her own kitchen and funded through donations. 

Volunteers stepped in to help cook and deliver the meals, and the Long Beach Food Coalition eventually moved into a larger space at Bayshore Church in Belmont Shore. From the beginning, the Long Beach Food Coalition has served anyone regardless of their background or circumstances. This includes LGBTQ+ individuals, undocumented individuals, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, and others experiencing food insecurity.  

“We’ll feed any bellies that need to be filled” 

As the word spread, the organization began to grow along with the need for a consistent influx of food. For the first six months, the organization ran almost entirely on donations, volunteers, and staff members using their own finances to keep the organization running. Without a consistent food supply, the Long Beach Food Coalition could not always predict how much food it would receive or what type of food they would get.  

That began to change when Food Finders connected with the Long Beach Food Coalition. After seeing Dr. Ellisa’s work in the community, Food Finders reached out to begin a partnership centered on a shared mission of reducing food insecurity. In spring 2026, Food Finders began providing the organization with a consistent source of nutritious food, timely food deliveries, and the confidence to take on new clients.  

Partnerships like these are crucial since food insecurity is a complex issue that cannot be addressed by one organization alone. Since partnering with the Long Beach Food Coalition in April 2026, Food Finders has donated 29,238 pounds of food, with weekly donations of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 pounds. Every week, these donations help prepare 5,000 to 5,800 meals, providing a consistent food supply the organization needed to continue serving its community. 

Looking ahead, Dr. Ellisa and Sam are proud of the work they have built and the opportunity to continue serving their community. Their partnership with Food Finders has allowed them to become a consistent resource for food insecure individuals in Long Beach. Food Finders is proud to support Long Beach Food Coalition and their mission of making sure no one goes hungry.   

Interested in partnering with Food Finders? Reach out to Celeste Lugo at clugo@foodfinders.org or (562) 283-1400 Ext. 108 to learn more about how you can get involved and make an impact in your community.