Senator makes meals for 2,700 critically ill people

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 3, 2024) — Marking the first anniversary of her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Laphonza Butler volunteered on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Project Angel Food's temporary kitchen in Lincoln Heights. Her visit underscored the transformative power of volunteerism in supporting individuals battling life-threatening illnesses and marked the first time a sitting senator has visited Project Angel Food.

“The key message that I would offer to anyone considering volunteering is that whether you have an hour to give or you have 30 years to dedicate, you can make a difference every single day in somebody else's life by choosing to be the backbone of operations and organizations in your community,” Sen. Butler said. “It is so incredibly important that we all do the best that we can, and every little bit that we can, to make sure that the people in our community know that they are loved and that they are seen.”

Joined by Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub and board member Mary Fisher, the senator toured the facility, greeted staff and volunteers, and actively participated in meal preparation, serving a vital role in the organization’s mission to deliver hope and nourishment to more than 2,700 critically ill clients daily.

“We are honored that Sen. Laphonza Butler chose to spend her one-year Senate anniversary with us,” Ayoub said. “Her hands-on involvement today not only brings attention to the critical need for volunteers but also highlights the importance of supporting legislation focused on medically tailored meals. Her commitment amplifies our mission and inspires others to get involved.”

In her remarks to the dedicated staff and volunteers, Sen. Butler expressed profound gratitude, praising those who help Project Angel Food deliver more than 1.5 million meals per year.

“You all are the ones who make it all work, who make the magic happen every single day,” Sen. Butler said.

The event emphasized the crucial role of volunteers in sustaining Project Angel Food’s efforts, which have delivered more than 18 million meals in its 35-year history. By rolling up her sleeves in the kitchen, Sen. Butler amplified the message that collective action can make a profound difference in the lives of those in need.

“What Project Angel Food has done is to bring hope and light and life to so many people who thought their community had forgotten about them,” Sen. Butler said. While on the cook line, cutting tofu, the senator quoted the great Civil Rights Activist Marian Wright Edelman: “Service is the rent we pay to be living.”

About Project Angel Food

Project Angel Food nourishes the health and spirit of people facing critical and life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering medically tailored meals with love, care and dignity. Since 1989, Project Angel Food has provided over 18 million meals to critically ill individuals across Los Angeles County. As a leader in the Food is Medicine movement, the organization tirelessly advocates for the national expansion of medically tailored meals, ensuring that everyone battling illness receives the nutrition they need. Currently, Project Angel Food serves more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals each year to 5,272 individuals.

Currently, Project Angel Food is temporarily preparing and packing meals at our Lincoln Heights facility while construction is underway to build The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Campus, which will double the size of our facilities. Once completed, this state-of-the-art campus will allow us to prepare and deliver three times as many meals, meeting the needs of the growing number of seriously ill people throughout Los Angeles County. Each year, more than 3,446 volunteers dedicate 40,812 hours to Project Angel Food — equivalent to the efforts of 22 full-time employees — ensuring that no one faces illness alone.

About Sen. Laphonza Butler

Sen. Laphonza Butler was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2023 and has been a passionate advocate for workers’ rights, racial equity, and economic justice. A former President of EMILY’s List and labor leader with SEIU, Senator Butler has devoted her career to fighting for fairness and representation for all. Her volunteer work at Project Angel Food exemplifies her commitment to community empowerment and justice for marginalized populations.