“I have a child with autism,” explained Yanira, “and I needed help filling out paperwork for social security [benefits] and one of my neighbors told me about a place at a park where they helped people who don’t speak English to fill out paperwork.”

That place was the Community Settlement Association (CSA), an affiliate of Riverside Community Health Foundation, which focuses on family wellness, education, civic engagement, cultural awareness, and strengthening the community.

Yanira received not only support with paperwork but also homework help and tutoring for her children through their after-school program and access to the organization’s food pantry, which had been heaven-sent since the start of the pandemic.

But lately, Yanira’s increasingly complicated schedule began making it more difficult for her to get to the food pantry. However, through CSA’s partnership with Door Dash, Yanira now gets her food delivered directly to her home.

“…I don’t have to leave the house and can take care of everything there is to do at home for when the kids arrive.”

For a working family like Yanira’s or an individual experiencing challenges, something as simple as having food on the table can be difficult, but with the Food Pantry, Yanira and so many other community members can feed their whole family.

“Usually, the food we receive is what I cook for dinner that day. I also use it for the kid’s smoothies in the morning!”

“…You ask for help,” recalled Yanira with gratitude, “and they give it willingly.”