November is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month. Each year, this observance reminds us that thousands of individuals and families struggle with food insecurity and unstable housing. Many rely on programs such as SNAP to meet their basic needs, and even temporary disruptions in benefits or employment can leave families facing difficult choices about how to feed their loved ones.

This month, I want to highlight some of the local nonprofit organizations with whom WLALA has partnered that are providing meals, groceries, safe shelter, and supportive services to members of our community experiencing hunger, job insecurity, poverty, or domestic violence. Their work is sustained not only by funding, but by volunteers and community support.

As we enter the Thanksgiving season and reflect with gratitude on what we have, I encourage you to consider donating or volunteering your time with one of these organizations. Even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference for someone in need.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LA Food Bank): Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. Since its inception, The LA Food Bank has distributed more than 1.9 billion pounds of food. With the help of hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually and an agency network of hundreds of partner agencies, The LA Food Bank serves hundreds of thousands of people on a monthly basis. Each year, WLALA participates in the annual Food From The Bar program, a friendly four-week competition among legal firms, law schools, and legal services organizations to see who can raise the most funds, acquire the most food, and work the most volunteer hours for The LA Food Bank in an effort to feed the children of Los Angeles County who may go hungry in the summer months. Kathleen McDowell was instrumental in introducing Food from the Bar to Los Angeles. To donate to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, click here.

Inner City Law Center (ICLC): Inner City Law Center fights for housing and justice for low-income tenants, working-poor families, immigrants, people who are disabled or living with HIV/AIDS, and homeless veterans. ICLC hosts a free monthly Tenant Rights Clinic the first Thursday of each month where renters can walk in and receive legal advice. To donate to ICLC and for more ways to give, click here. For law students interested in learning about or applying to the 2026 WLALA/ICLC Fellowship Application, click here.

Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law (The Center): The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law was founded in the early 1980s by Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Bar and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Led by HBCFL’s Executive Director, Stacy Horth-Neubert, The Center has served as a cornerstone of family law and domestic violence assistance for low-income persons in California. To help secure its future, the Harriett Buhai Center has established a new annual giving program, the Century Campaign. To donate, click here. For law students interested in learning about the WLALA/Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law Fellowship, click here.

Downtown Women’s Center (DWC): Downtown Women’s Center is the only organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on serving women and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1978, DWC’s mission is to end homelessness for women and gender diverse individuals by providing safe housing and supportive services centered on wellness, employment, and advocacy. WLALA volunteers with DWC to prepare a home-cooked meal for more than 100 women in need through DWC’s Cooking Club each year. To donate to DWC, click here.

“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
— Anne Frank

May we carry this reminder into the season ahead. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.

With Gratitude,
Farah Tabibkhoei
President, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles