For the last year and a half, my family and many others, have relied upon Angel's Food Pantry and Community Cupboard to feed us throughout the pandemic. Although there are large San Diego County funded food pantry's available to us, not all of us need a huge box of food. Nor do we all eat the contents of what is offered. Some of us have special dietary needs and or restrictions such as diabetics, those with gluten restrictions and serious interactions between certain foods and medications just to name a few.

There are those of us with smaller families who can not consume whole bags and boxes of beans, rice and fresh citrus before it either goes bad or accumulates each month. These are just some of the contents of the San Diego County Food Banks monthly offerings.

That is where Angel's Food Pantry and Community Cupboard comes in. All of the items available to us, are free of charge, and are in single and smaller portions. We are able to get 1 can of canned peaches instead of the 2 or 3 provided each month from the San Diego County Food Bank. 1 or 2 potatoes and not 5 or 10 pounds. Furthermore, Angel's Food Pantry & Community Cupboard also offers options that are not available from the food bank, such as eggs, lunch meat, small hams, hotdogs and pork roasts. Personal items such as tooth paste, dental floss and feminine hygiene products have also been available. Again, non of which are available through the San Diego County Food Bank.

By utilizing the items that Angel's Food Pantry and Community Cupboard has available to us, we are not only saving the county money, we are also preventing unnecessary food waste.

Also noteworthy, available at Angel's Food Pantry and Community Cupboard, are books for young and old and toys for the children. Most of the parents who are relying on Angel's Food Pantry have been unable, financially, to provide their young children with gifts for birthdays and other special events this past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Children don't understand. All they know is it is Christmas, Hanukah, Easter, Ramadan or Kwanza and there are no gifts. Angel and Mark Jannah make this possible.

Exceptionally important is the fact that all the items, food, books and toys are all donated. Not one cent in asked for from anyone who have been drawing on the resources provided by Angel's Food Pantry & Community Cupboard. All items donated are from other members in the Vista community who are able, financially or have other access to food and necessities, to offer as donations.

All toys and books go through a cleansing process to maintain the recommendations provided by the CDC regarding Covid-19 precautions. Masks are required and hand sanitizer is available at the entrance.  

And finally, but most importantly, Mark and Angel Jannah do this out of compassion and love for their fellow Vistians. They have absolutely zero financial benefit from this labor of love. Mark religiously assists in collecting the donations. Angel organizes, cleanses, cleans and maintains the donations and surrounding area daily. They have installed a surveillance camera in order to alert them when someone arrives to "shop" or donate. Angel greats each "shopper" upon arrival. The Pantry and Cupboard area are set up in a manner that offers privacy and dignity to those of us who are there for help. Always clean, neat, tidy and ready to receive us.

To close this magnificent Vista neighborhood necessity would be a travesty to our community and your constituents. Please do not take a valuable community resource from Vistians who are still facing dire food deficits.

We, your constituents, humbly request your intervention in keeping Angel's Food Pantry & Community Cupboard open. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Elissa L. Yassine