Families Forward is seeing levels of needs not experienced since the height of the pandemic, but now it is addressing that need for help putting food on the table with an improved facility, its leaders say.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Irvine-based nonprofit celebrated a grand opening for The Community Market, its expanded food pantry that “creates a more dignified shopping experience for clients, reduces food waste and ensures every family can learn more about Families Forward’s services.”

  • Families Forward’s new Community Market in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday,...

    Families Forward’s new Community Market in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. The expansion of the pantry into The Community Market includes; a new 670 square-foot market, an additional cold-storage walk-in, allowing for expanded storage of milk, eggs, produce and a renovated 2,782 square-foot warehouse space. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Families Forward’s new Community Market in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. The expansion of the pantry into The Community Market includes; a new 670 square-foot market, an additional cold-storage walk-in, allowing for expanded storage of milk, eggs, produce and a renovated 2,782 square-foot warehouse space. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Families in need of help with groceries are able to “shop” the new 670-square-foot pantry space like a market, picking the food items they need and would use. It is a bright space with colorful murals, shelving like a grocery store and bins of produce to pick from.

CEO Madelynn Hirneise likened it to a Trader Joe’s, complete with the smiling staff welcoming shoppers.

“You feel connected,” she said. “There is no judgment. We are here to support and empower you.”

The Community Market has added a cold-storage walk-in as well, so it can have more milk, eggs and fresh produce on hand. Its 2,782-square-foot warehouse was also renovated to store more food donations, diapers and other necessities.

Previously the food pantry handed out pre-packaged bags of staples – a formula of food items that not everyone could use because of dietary restrictions, allergies or cultural tastes, Hirneise said.

“Families are truly taking what they need,” she said. “We have more fresh and nutritional items than ever before.”

Families Forward has operated a food pantry since 1987; it is serving an average of 800 families each month today, a press release said.

Getting help with groceries might be many families’ introduction to the nonprofit, Hirneise said, and that team of smiling, trained ambassadors who will staff the pantry will be able to make connections and understand the families’ needs and how its host of services could help them.

Like at Trader Joe’s, she said, “before you know it you have told the associate your weekend plans.”

Families Forward also offers housing help, mental health counseling, career coaching and other safety net services. And the ambassadors will know what the organization’s partners also offer to make referrals.

The nonprofit got financial help for the project from Third District Supervisor Don Wagner’s office, San Diego Gas & Electric’s Community Assistance Fund, and Harvesters, a women’s group that supports the Second Harvest Food Bank.

“All in” it was about $200,000 in grants and about another $100,000 of in-kind services from general contractor C.W. Driver and its subcontractors, Hirneise said. Plus a muralist and interior designer helped make the space more inviting and there were others who contributed, she said.

“It takes a community,” Hirneise said, “to feed a community.”

Find out more about the food pantry, volunteer opportunities and Families Foward’s other services at families-forward.org.