The Season of Giving: How Community Partnerships Transform Lives One Meal at a Time
As we approach Giving Tuesday on December 2, 2025, and enter the heart of the giving season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what makes our work at Meals in Motion truly transformative: the power of partnership.
This year has been marked by incredible collaborations that have expanded our reach, deepened our impact, and brought hands-on culinary education to thousands of families across Los Angeles County.
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values
Among our most valued partners is L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan. Their support has been instrumental in helping us address one of the most critical challenges facing our communities: food insecurity and its profound impact on health outcomes.
L.A. Care understands what we’ve always known—that health isn’t just about medical care. Research shows that 50-80 percent of health outcomes are based on social, economic, and environmental factors. That’s why their commitment to addressing social determinants of health, including food security and nutrition education, aligns perfectly with our mission at Meals in Motion.
Through their Community Health Investment Fund, L.A. Care has committed over $509 million to support the health of Los Angeles County residents by strengthening community health and filling critical gaps in health coverage. Their focus on ensuring everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible mirrors our own dedication to empowering children, families, and adults to cook confidently and make healthier food choices.
The Impact of Working Together
This year, with the support of partners like L.A. Care, we’ve reached approximately 1,800 families each month—that’s roughly 22,000 households annually. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real impact shows up in the confidence surveys we conduct, where 85% of participants report significant gains in cooking confidence. It appears in the kitchens of families who are now preparing budget-friendly, nutritious meals at home, saving an estimated $180 per month on food costs.
Our flagship Pal’s & Pans after-school program has maintained an impressive 97% seat fill rate in districts like Wilsona and Palmdale, with students not only learning essential cooking skills but also sparking interest in culinary careers. Every participant receives their own tools and ingredients, ensuring hands-on learning that translates directly to home kitchens.
Building Healthier Communities Through Education
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