The price of year-round sunshine is steep for those stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB). For many military families, support is crucial.
Los Angeles’s cost of living is 61.7% above the national average, according to data on Military OneSource. One military spouse — new to the base — recently saw the need for immediate and accessible food support. Having watched the success of a pop-up pantry in Colorado, the spouse quietly advocated for families and requested that base leadership do more to help. In response, a pop-up food pantry of groceries was quickly planned for the first Friday in May. All grocery bags were claimed within an hour, and there was overwhelming gratitude from those who received needed supplies.
“This is small, but it really makes a big difference,” said a federal employee as he thanked volunteers for creating the event. Another attendee, a junior enlisted service member, added, “thank you so much; my family really needs this.”
Creating support avenues
Master Sgt. Steven Hamm, first sergeant for Space Systems Command, says he sees service members and their families struggle firsthand. He explained why he thinks a recurring monthly pop-up pantry is needed for the base community.
“Many families face food insecurity but don’t always qualify for traditional assistance or are able to go to larger food banks,” Hamm said. “This pop-up food pantry allowed us to bring support and resources directly to service members and their families who are in need. Since the base is familiar, safe and convenient, we wanted to facilitate an experience that would hopefully alleviate any possible stress or anxieties associated with going to a traditional food bank.”
Food insecurity factors
Many military families have found themselves needing external support from food pantries due to inflation, lack of spouse income due to frequent moves, and even PCS costs themselves. You can read more about that in earlier reporting on the impact of economic conditions on military households. Those stationed at LAAFB face additional unique challenges that limit how far their paycheck stretches.
One such issue is housing. While the military installation is in El Segundo, base housing is approximately 20 miles away in San Pedro, resulting in many families choosing off-base housing. But housing costs in the LA area are high — and rising. The devastating Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year destroyed hundreds of homes, which has only increased rent prices. The high rent still frequently leaves families paying out of pocket even though LAAFB has one of the highest Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) among Air Force bases. BAH starts at $3,459 with dependents but at the time of this publishing, Apartments.com has only one local option of a three-bedroom home below $3,500.
On the other hand, if service members choose base housing, the commute and cost of gas must be considered. While a 20-mile commute might be easy in some locations, the commute in LA can easily take more than an hour during rush-hour traffic. Additionally, gas prices in California are consistently more than a $1.50 per gallon than the national average.
Regardless of where military families choose to live, the cost of food, child care and energy are also high in the Golden State. For example, a 2024 study found that the average American family spent $270 a week on food, while Californians spent $296. Even with a 2% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for service members stationed at LAAFB, food costs alone for a family exceeds the average COLA, leaving members to still adjust for the cost of housing, gas, child care and energy.
Serving those who serve
The organizers of the pop-up pantry expressed that they have continued to see a growing need within the community, receiving more requests for support over the last few months. The Airman Family Readiness Center has been trying to help meet those needs by providing diapers and food when available, but when requests increase, the resources dry up. Those involved with the food pantry are already brainstorming how to fund this important effort as more families are burdened by the cost of living. The team has set a goal to hold monthly pop-up pantry events with food and household items scheduled for the first Friday of every month.
“I take care of all airmen, guardians, and civilians on LAAFB. It’s no secret that Los Angeles is a high-cost area, and it’s also no secret that some may hesitate to ask for financial help due to social stigmas,” Hamm said. “It’s a struggle I see every day. Troops who come into my office ask for financial guidance, what resources are available to them and their families or want to talk about struggles with food access or affordability. I can’t help but wonder how many others out there are facing similar concerns but they’re hesitant to reach out for help.”
