LA Dream Center to offer 3 meals a day as SNAP benefits expire for many Americans

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As people in need run out of food and benefits, the Los Angeles Dream Center is expanding its food outreach.

This week, the non-profit will be providing three free meals a day every day at their kitchen in Echo Park at 2301 Bellevue Ave. near Coronado Street.

An outdoor food pantry will also distribute nonperishable groceries Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and mobile food trucks will be serving 17 neighborhoods throughout L.A.

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"A lot of fear, a lot of people just wondering where their next meal's coming from. What are they going to do in two weeks? A lot of people aren't concerned of just today," said Donny Irmen, the administrative director of L.A. Dream Center. "So people can come get breakfast, they can come back and get lunch. Moving from lunch, they can go back and grab groceries outside, then wait one more hour, and they can come back for dinner."

Breakfast is from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., lunch is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner is from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Over the weekend, breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., lunch is from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The outdoor pantry is open Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dream Center is also accepting community donations and calling for volunteers.

The organization came to the aid of the community during the pandemic, distributing over 5 million meals, and also provided relief to families affected by the L.A. wildfires.

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