Supervisor Lindsey Horvath called it “faith in action” and Councilman Bob Blumenfield said it would change lives.
They were both present along with other elected officials, community leaders, religious representatives and residents to celebrate the grand opening of the West Valley Food Pantry’s new facility.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel said that it wasn’t just that they provided services – but how they did it, praising Executive Director Debbie Decker’s sense of purpose, dynamism and dedication.
Decker said that they do not just dispense food to those in need, but also diapers, hygiene products, pet food, school supplies and referrals to community services, housing help and more.
The new 7,000-square-foot building consolidates all West Valley Food Pantry operations under one roof, improving service efficiency and accessibility for the thousands it serves in the valley.
Decker explained that those they see include not just homeless, but seniors, families in need and now victims of the recent fires. “We offer everyone companionship and a listening ear, and respect where they are in life and try to help,” she said at the opening.
The number they served in 2024 is staggering – 97,000 people who needed a bag of groceries, a helping hand, a referral or a service from Decker, her team or the more than 200 volunteers that show up to help distribute 900,000 pounds of food.
To house that much food and supplies was part of the demand for a new building.
The new facility was initially made possible by a $3.5 million appropriation in the state budget in 2021, with additional funding secured in 2023 to further expand the building. Additional funding came from foundations and the generosity of many supporting individuals.
The work of Blumenfield and his staff brought to fruition the completion of the building.
The Reverend John Taylor, Bishop of Los Angeles, said that Decker “turned a spark of imagination into this majestic facility.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the pantry, which has grown steadily since its founding – which was basically church members giving out cans of food.
The official founding of the pantry was inspired by Margaret Shively in 1975, who actually saw the groundbreaking of the new building before she passed last year.
Another long-standing supporter of the pantry is the National Charity League of the San Fernando Valley, whose mother-daughter members have volunteered for more than 30 years and donated over $1 million to the organization. So much so that they have a room in the new building dedicated to them.
The West Valley Food Pantry is located on the grounds of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 5700 Rudnick Avenue off Shoup Avenue in Woodland Hills.
