A South Coast food pantry run by a group of hospitals is reporting an unprecedented spike in demand for aid during the coronavirus crisis.
The St. John's Food Pantry has had a 32% increase in people served in March of this year over March of 2019, helping more than 2300 people.
Officials with the food pantry say families have been challenged by stay-at-home orders, and a spike in unemployment. The Oxnard facility is open two days a week. It's part of St. John's Hospitals Health Ministries.
The pantry is a community service of Dignity Health's St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, and St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo.