Mary & I had the pleasure of volunteering ( from 11 A.M.-3 P.M.-we stayed an extra hour ) for the first time for this worthy cause; trust MP, I almost never volunteer unless I feel my time will be well spent on volunteering for a worthy cause! Everything from Barbies, foot balls, walkie talkies, skate boards, electric cars, dolls, you name it, it was most likely there; I mean a packed back room that would make Santa Ho-Ho-My!!!! Yes, full of donated toys and the like for ALL ages, busting at the seems, with all of the elves bustling about organizing them and refreshing the delivery areas with every group's arrival! =============================================================== This organization helps make Christmas a very special time for Families ( who are not as fortunate as others ) and their children by offering up a 1 toy per child gift center located within a church; 20-25 people are allowed in at a time, toy distribution is distributed by volunteers areas beginning with ages 0-3, 4-7, 8-12 and 13-17. Also, while waiting, the children are entertained by volunteers offering up all kinds of arts & crafts and in the main area of the church, they had a packed house of of demographics singing Christmas carols and, recognizing every other holiday celebrated by other cultures & religions at this time of year too. The toy distribution process begins at 8 A.M. and goes through until 4 P.M.; many families and their children were there as early as 4 A.M. in line to get in, there must have been over 500 families & children throughout the whole day; when Marty & I exited, the line that wrapped around the block and then some was gone. I volunteered on the 0-3 age group and Marty was over at the 8-12 age group distribution; for the last hour I then moved over to the 8-12 area to assist as that was a pretty busy place and, that's where all of the skate boards and cool stuff was-just the kid in me I guess! I was truly ( and still am actually ) humbled by this experience and, 1 little boy who was age 8 touched my heart: Marty waved me over to translate in Spanish for the Mother of this beautiful child, the Mom, ( with tears in her eyes and the signs of a hard life too ) explained to me that he was age 8, but at birth there was some damage to his brain, leaving him developmentally stunted and with the mentality of a 3 year old; I directed her to the area he might better do well with, ages 4-7. Now keep in mind that during my translation this beautiful child kept reaching out to me, grabbing for my hand, just to hold it, looking into my eyes quite intensely; I smiled back and kept shaking his hand. On her way out the Mother thanked me again & again about how much she appreciated ALL that everyone had done and, thanking me for being so kind and, I gave the Boy another gift, a football, then the Boy motioned to me, to come closer, as if he had something to whisper in my ear, nope, a BIG smooch on MP's bearded face is what I got with a BIG smile from him too; I think of him often and pray that he is doing well as too his family. Look, it takes a lot to get me watery eyed, okay sometimes not so much, but I really got into gratitude after this segment in my journey of life and, I tell of this encounter still. IT DOES NOT COST YOU ANYTHING TO BE NICE TO SOMEONE-NOTHING, JUST DO IT! Now, as for those 3 kids who wiped off your marked wrists as you exited and attempted to re-enter and get more toys, COAL in your stockings and shame on you & your folks! Really: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BClVT3mPhdI read more

My overall experience is MEDIOCRE. I'm currently using the free hot meal program. I have my PROS & CONS. Here's the PROS. The serving staff are friendly, They allow us to get seconds & thirds. Here are the CONS, The building is old & decrepit. No air conditioning. So does the restrooms. Overall, the food sometimes good & sometimes mediocre. Also, the food pantry is MEDIOCRE as well. I don't always get what I wanted. read more

COA is a critical access point for the Long Beach community. They accommodated my teaching project for earthquake preparedness and everyone is so kind. read more

Christian Outreach In Action - Food Banks Near Me - Long Beach, California

This organization is one of Long Beach's hidden treasures. They offer a plethora of services to the community and provide a warm clean inviting environment so that asking for a helping hand is an easy task to do. Ms. Dixie and her team are always helpful and informative. They offer services such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, clothing, baby needs, food bank, senior needs, and much more. Visit them online at www.coalomgbeach.org read more

See all

I have volunteered here for a few days and the staff here are very friendly and accommodating. They do a lot of good work and do most to make sure everyone is taken care of! Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a food bank to come to. read more

Great organization. Does so much for the community in need ; we can't say enough. Overwhelmed with an ever increasing homeless population especially post Covid, we highly recommend donating to this worthy organization. read more

COA is such a awesome place good quality donations, food bank, great free hot meals daily you name it plus the staff is so friendly and helpful what a wonderful place read more

This is only food pantry I can go to and everyone was super friendly until today. Today not only was I yelled at by several male volunteers that were not wearing masks but one told me to flirt and smile with another guy in order to access food. I asked for a supervisor and no one came to address this issue. I have a serious physical disability that I need to lean on my bike so I don't fall and carry my groceries in a basket. I've done this before without any issues at COA. After waiting over an hour and being in severe pain I had to leave empty handed and hungry today. I hope the people that are in charge start training their volunteers that sexual harassment is not okay. read more

I don't know where to even start. I volunteered there for 12 days to help out and what I saw and heard made me sad. First, the cockroach infestation ( the state of being invaded or overrun by pests or parasites) was disgusting. I was helping out in the kitchen and setting up for breakfast and lunch everyday. First, I opened up the refrigerator and a cockroach came out of the door and there was a couple of cockroaches in some of the food that they were getting ready to served. I told them and they didn't seem to care. Where the homeless eat there were cockroaches and other vermin crawling on the walls above where the meals were being served. The other factor that I would like to point out, is how some of the volunteers and community service people are treated. There is man there named Frank. I do not know his last name but he has an angry problem. He verbally abused not only the homeless that come there for a meal but others who help out or are doing community service. The other day he berated a volunteer for asking a question about moving some fresh bread that came in the day before. The volunteer did not understand what he was being asked to do and when he asked for clarification this man name Frank went ballistic on him used the F word several times and got in his face. This is called Christian Outreach and thought is was a Christian Organization. When the older guy asked him not to use the F word, Frank continued to shout and said the 5 word several more times in his face.The older guy he berated just stood there embarrassed by the way Frank was treating him. The guy walked out and never came back to volunteer. One of my biggest concerns about this man name Frank is that I saw his physically shove and berate a homeless African American women, and told her to get the fuck out. He did this on the stairs leading out to the exit on 3rd Street. I have called the Long Beach Police Department and will be making a report out on him. The last thing which he does is the way he treat the community service people. If you are handicapped and have a medical excuse to be exempted from different work such as lifting heavy boxes or physically going up stairs he basically calls them a pussy by telling them not to get beaver in a twist No if you a young looking pretty girl or an attractive women he calls you baby and tell you that you are looking good. The is suppose to be a non-denominational Christian Outreach. How does some like this get hired and is still working there. I wouldn't even let my worst enemy eat there. Stay away. read more

much respect for the staff/ volunteers of this place, with all the fucking budget cuts and obama sucking cock and getting rich and getting dick, and being in denial and the needy and the bread line increasing in number, this place goes out of their way to help the homeless and actually makes a real difference for thousands while our elected officials have abandoned the poor and the police have declared war on the homeless. watch the tv show cops on court tv, why dont the police arrest the banks for embezzling 10 billion dollars they should have paid in taxes, simple they'd rather mess with the poor. the staff here are real unlike the others, they actually care!! mad props read more

i went to volunteer here once and i felt totally unwelcomed. i came with a desire to help the homeless and all i got to do was clean their chapel and have creepy guys stare at me while i walked up and down the steps. they told us they didn't have a vacuum so i broke my back (not literally) using super heavy brooms to sweep and upstairs i hear a vacuum. yes, you get to clean for the homeless which is the only reason why i didn't give them one star, but having creepy guys check me out while doing service was just disgusting. read more