Partner Spotlight: Latin American Community Center
May 11, 2022
There is no one way to describe the Food Bank of Delaware’s partner food pantries. Some are large, some are small. Others are open every day, and a few are open once a week, but one thing they all have in common – their commitment to serve the community.
Each partner pantry looks different as it has its own goals and knows the needs of its community.
The Latin American Community Center (LACC) has been a long-time Food Bank of Delaware partner. The LACC, headquartered on North Van Buren Street in Wilmington’s Hilltop neighborhood, has been serving Delawareans since 1969. Focused on life empowerment and learning services, the agency works to uplift the community.
The LACC operates a food pantry on the second floor of its headquarters. The pantry is stocked with household essentials like canned goods, pasta, rice, milk, beans, frozen meats, hygeine products and more. Laura Mayor Guerra (pictured to the right) is a General Case Manager and coordinates operations of the pantry. She said that 90 percent of the food comes from the Food Bank, and every three weeks or so, she places an order to help stock the shelves.
The pandemic has changed the way the pantry operates. Families in need of food assistance can make an appointment over the phone, and team members will bring down packed grocery bags to the building entrance. If someone without an appointment shows up and needs help, they are not turned away, pointed out Director of Family Support Services Franciso Zambrano.
“We work together to meet the basic needs of families,” said Mayor Guerra. “Anything they need, we try to help them.”
In addition to the food pantry, LACC also partners with the Food Bank of Delaware to provide seniors over the age of 60 with monthly food through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and nutrition education for both seniors and pre-schoolers.
According to the organization’s annual report, 866 families benefitted from food assistance in 2020.
Its services are far-reaching. The agency also supports the community with:
- Domestic violence counseling and safety plans
- Rent/utility assistance
- Programs for seniors
- Clothing closet
- Crisis alleviation
- Workforce development
- Adult education
- Financial empowerment through Stand By Me
- School-age programs
- Highschool programs
- Early development
- And more!
To learn more about the Latin American Community Center, click here.
