2020-04-01 Taste of Home

90 APRIL/MAY 2020 TASTEOFHOME.COM

GATHER

Food for Good

ACTRESS JENNIE GARTH TAKES ON

HUNGER IN HER LATEST ROLE AS

FEEDING AMERICA AMBASSADOR.

LOVING BIGGER

IN LOS ANGELES

SHE ROSE TO STARDOM AS KELLY TAYLOR

ON TV’S BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, AND NOW

JENNIE GARTH IS USING HER FAME TO HELP

FIGHT HUNGER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

As an ambassador for Feeding America, Jennie

has helped sort food at the Los Angeles Regional

Food Bank, worked on the organization’s mobile

pantry and been featured in a public service

announcement for the food bank.

Jennie says one of her most memorable

experiences as an ambassador was volunteering

with her daughter Luca at a women’s shelter in

downtown Los Angeles, which has been served

by the food bank.

“We have been able to speak to and get to

know some of these women, and that has been

very rewarding,” Jennie says. While the world

sometimes shuts out people who are on the

streets or in crisis, Feeding America reaches

out to them, she notes, “and reminds them that

they belong by supporting them.”

Giving back to the community is a personal

value of Jennie’s, one that she wants to pass

along to her three daughters. She says she and

Luca love to volunteer their time together.

“Luca has a big heart and she inspires me

to love bigger,” Jennie says.

She knows she is fortunate to have a fan base

that gives her a podium so she can be a voice for

people in need of nutritious food. “There is so

much self-promotion in this industry, and while

it’s a vital part of being an actor, it also allows

me a huge platform to promote and inspire

many, many people—and I can’t imagine not

using it for good every chance I get.”

Her volunteer efforts are welcomed. Roger

Castle of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

says that more than 2 million people are facing

food insecurity in Los Angeles County and that

the county has more food-insecure children

than any other county in the United States.

“We’re here because of generous community

support and volunteers like Jennie.” 

1 in 5 people in Los Angeles County

aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from.

Nationally, 1 in 9 people struggle with hunger.

Last year, 37,0 0 0 volunteers contributed

time and talent to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

51% of Feeding America food programs rely on

volunteers, who help sort food, check freshness dates

and pack items for distribution to people in need.

To volunteer at your local Feeding America food bank,

visit feedingamerica.org/take-action/volunteer.

HELP FEEDING AMERICA FIGHT TO

SOLVE HUNGER: FEEDINGAMERICA.ORG

VOLUNTEERS VALUED

Time and talent of individuals and

groups are needed to fight hunger

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Jennie and her daughter Luca

volunteer their time working

with Feeding America.