The new community market for families families Forwars in Irvine aims to provide families that experience dignity of food insecurity

Irvine, California (Kabc) – The transformation of a pantry into a community market into The families forward It gives an option to hundreds of families when collecting food from the non -profit organization, while allowing volunteers to intervene in the hope of helping to reduce the lack of housing in Orange County.

Keith Bachoo, a local grandfather, gathered edible in the Irvine market on Tuesday to feed his grandchildren. He says he is working to adopt them all.

“This is for Rayland, the 14 -year -old, he likes to do Nachos,” said Bachoo.

Bachoo is a cancer survivor, left partially blind after a work accident. He told Eyewitness News that the only income for him, his wife and his five grandchildren came from social security.

He said that for them, working was a challenge, but with the rent of almost $ 3,000 a month for a two bedroom apartment, I was looking for part -time employment.

“Looking for another part -time job because, by older people disabled, there is a limit in how much I can move and my wife must be completely busy to take care of our little autistic grandfather,” Bachoo said.

When it came to food, the family trusted the front families. The non -profit organization celebrated the great inauguration this month of its community market. It was a transformation of its pantry to what it seems and feels like edible purchases.

Instead of obtaining a full bag, families have the dignity of making decisions and helping to reduce food waste leaving what they don’t want.

No one is rejected. The only request is that people show ID.

“Actually, I could choose what you want and the biggest and most beneficial fact about this, it is the people who make you feel special here,” said Bachoo.

The family front CEO, Madelynn Hirniese, said that this was one of the main objectives for the volunteers of the non -profit organization in the market is to build relationships with families and intervene before they fight with the lack of housing.

“We can start discovering … what else is happening,” said Hirniese. “Do we need professional resources? Do we need housing affordability resources?”

Hirniese said that food insecurity was a growing problem.

According to the Office of Labor Statistics, in the counties of Los Angeles and Orange, the cost of all groceries increased just over 2% this January compared to the same period of time in 2024. The only fall was seen in cereals and baked products.

Week after week, Bachoo can bring proteins and nutritious products home at home, regardless of the price, because it is free.

This week, Bachoo celebrated four years without cancer. The market has served almost 800 families since its soft opening in January.