On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Venice-based organizer Michael Brandt, founder of the evangelical outreach group Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, stood beside a sidewalk pantry on Pacific Avenue near Horizon in Venice, joined by local healer and community figure Daisy, to help restock and beautify the space with fresh plants and flowers.
The pantry, located behind the Trading Post at 1324 Pacific Avenue, operates as a 24-hour, zero-barrier food and essentials station—offering round-the-clock access for those in need, and an open invitation to the public to donate freely. Brandt described the project as a pilot meant to demonstrate how community-led solutions can bypass bureaucracy while fostering direct mutual aid.
“It’s a 24-hour, zero-barrier, no-bottleneck pantry for the public—and it’s free,” said Brandt. “We wanted to show people you can just do things if you do it the right way. Anyone can donate at any time, and likewise, anyone can take what they need.”
Daisy, known across Venice as “the healer,” volunteered her time to organize the pantry and plant flowers around the base. Her efforts drew praise from Brandt, who credited her with bringing people together and adding spiritual and aesthetic warmth to the initiative.
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors was originally formed in response to the rollback of emergency SNAP food benefits, which left many low-income families without reliable access to meals. Brandt emphasized the need for a modernized food relief model—one that partners with local restaurants, rewards donors with gift cards or experiences, and allows businesses to contribute without harming their brand reputation.
“If you're a family and walk into a restaurant saying you can’t feed your kids, they have to say no—because there’s no system in place,” Brandt said. “We’re building that system so the answer can be yes.”
Currently, the group is hosting a coat drive through the end of November, and encourages community members to drop off clean, gently used coats and nonperishable foods. Donors who tag @feedingneighbors on social media may be gifted a local experience or gift card as thanks.
“Neighbors speak to neighbors,” said Brandt. “And that’s what this is all about.”
Santa Monica Closeup will continue following developments from this community effort in the weeks ahead.
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