The Valley Industry Association (VIA) and the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry recently hosted a mixer to commemorate 40 years of service provided by the Food Pantry. This significant milestone was celebrated at the Food Pantry’s location, bringing together community business leaders and supporters.
Joanne Ainsworth, the executive director of the SCV Food Pantry, expressed her enthusiasm about the celebration, highlighting that this was a unique opportunity for the Pantry.
“VIA invited us to do an ‘After Five,’ which is a mixer, informational kind of fun thing after work, right … and so we said, ‘Of course, yes, we’d love to do it,’ which is exciting because we’ve never had really anyone here like this,” Ainsworth noted. She took this opportunity not just to celebrate but to showcase recent improvements made to the Pantry’s facilities.
“I think we’re just really proud because not everyone comes down here or knows where we are. And so, it’s just great to show off kind of, our hard work. And also, so people can see how small it is and how many people we’re feeding in this tiny old place,” she added.
VIA CEO Kathy Norris echoed Ainsworth’s sentiments and appreciated the chance to collaborate on such an important event.
“We actually were tremendously honored that Joanne (Ainsworth) asked us if we wanted to do an event here to help them commemorate that 40th anniversary, which is a really big deal,” Norris commented, extending her congratulations to Ainsworth for the impactful work being done in the modest location of the Food Pantry.
Ainsworth passionately responded by crediting Norris for the resources provided to the Food Pantry.
“One thing I want to say is that we’ve been around for 40 years, and I feel like in the past, it was like the little engine that could,” she reflected. “And it was very small and very just to itself, you know, of course, we’ve made it this far, but now we’re like this steam engine that can. And we’re ready to like to take off into the next chapter of the pantry’s life and feed more people.”
According to Ainsworth, the SCV Food Pantry currently serves approximately 8,000 to 10,000 individuals each month.
Valerie Bradford, president of the Food Pantry board, shared her feelings on this momentous occasion, stating, “I have a heart for service, and this allows me to do exactly that. And so, it is amazing to be here, to be visited by everybody that also has a heart for serving and giving and so it’s wonderful. It’s wonderful that we are seeing, that we are recognized and that’s what we need.”
Bradford expressed her hope for the community, noting that despite four decades of operation, many residents are still unaware of the Pantry’s existence.
“And so, it’s given me hope for the community, for those in need, the people that donate to us, you know, Albertson’s and Whole Foods and all the other people that donate to us, it’s all hope. And so, yes, I am just very pleased and honored to be here,” she remarked.
Local dignitaries, including Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda and Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, presented certificates of recognition to the Food Pantry in honor of the milestone. Schiavo reflected on her experience volunteering at the Pantry during the summer, which allowed her to witness firsthand the struggles faced by individuals in the community.
“So, we’re so grateful for the work that the Food Pantry does to really make sure that those bellies are full, because as you said, you can’t do anything if you are hungry. It really takes over your life to figure out where you’re going to get that next meal. And the pantry has been doing this for 40 years, incognito a little bit,” Schiavo stated.
The celebration not only marked a historical milestone but emphasized the critical role of the SCV Food Pantry in addressing hunger and serving the community, reinforcing its commitment to providing food assistance for years to come.
