$ 3.5 million in government funding will help West Valley Food Pantry build permanent facility – Daily News

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. Volunteers will work in the pantry on Monday, August 9th, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. Volunteers will work in the pantry on Monday, August 9th, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. Volunteers will work in the pantry on Monday, August 9th, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. Volunteers will work in the pantry on Monday, August 9th, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. on Monday, August 9, 2021. Debbie Decker, President / CEO of West Valley Food Pantry, shares her gratitude as Rep. Gabriel listens. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

• Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino presented the West Valley Food Pantry with a check for $ 3.5 million to aid the pantry’s homeless services at the Prince of Peace Church in Woodland Hills, California. Volunteers will work in the pantry on Monday, August 9th, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News / SCNG)

Rep. Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, gave the West Valley Food Pantry a $ 3.5 million boost and presented the organization with a novelty check, the latest addition to the state budget for the pantry.

The money will help the pantry build a permanent facility and expand its reach and services in the western San Fernando Valley, officials said on Monday, Aug. 9. A new 7,000 square foot facility will include an upgraded commercial kitchen.

Funding will support the Pantry’s efforts to help people with homelessness. The pantry has also helped families in need in the West Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The West Valley Food Pantry is a real blessing to our community,” said Gabriel. “The Pantry did an incredible job helping children, families and seniors at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am delighted to have raised $ 3.5 million to help them build a new facility and to help expand their efforts to combat hunger and homelessness in the San Fernando Valley. “

In the past 18 months, officials said the nonprofit has seen a quadrupling in the number of community members who need its services, helping more than 240,000 people in that time.

The organization also delivers groceries to more than 600 seniors who are at home.