Venice Family Clinic Announces the Official Launch of Free and Healthy Food Giveaway Program in Gardena  
Nonprofit Community Health Center Expands its Food Distribution Program

Gardena, CA –Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center serving 45,000 people in need from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay, announced today that it has officially launched a biweekly free and healthy food distribution program at its Gardena Health Center location, 742 W. Gardena Boulevard.

The Clinic will provide free fruits and vegetables to the public on Tuesday, March 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., or as long as supplies last. The food distributions will continue to be held at the Gardena Health Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

“Food is medicine, but far too many individuals and families in Gardena struggle to put healthy meals on the table, which puts their health at risk.” said Dr. Mitesh Popat, Venice Family Clinic CEO. “We’re proud to expand our free food distribution program to this community where we have provided access to health care since 1980, and to help ensure no one is left behind on the journey to well-being.”

This program is part of Venice Family Clinic’s 2024 plans to expand access to comprehensive, high-quality health care and services for people in need from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay.

Venice Family Clinic began distributing free food to patients and community members in 2019, and this program continues to grow in response to need. The Clinic hosts regular food giveaways at its Santa Monica, Culver City, Inglewood, Venice and now Gardena locations, drawing large crowds of community members who might otherwise struggle to afford fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2023, the Clinic distributed over one million pounds of fresh produce and other staples.

All community members are welcome, and no appointment is necessary.

For dates and locations, please see the food distribution section of the Clinic’s community calendar.

About Venice Family Clinic                                            

Venice Family Clinic is a nonprofit community health center that is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The Clinic merged with South Bay Family Health Care in late 2021, and serves an area from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay in Los Angeles County. It has a network of clinic locations and Early Head Start centers in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne, plus mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program to reach people experiencing homelessness. The Clinic’s comprehensive care also includes mental health services, dental care, vision services, substance use treatment, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, healthy food distributions, health education, health insurance enrollment, child development services and more. For more information, please visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org and follow on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.