Community Spotlight

The Power of Food, Faith, and Manifestation with Gwena Hunter

Gwena Hunter is believed to be the first Black woman in the country to open a brick-and-mortar vegan food bank. Her path there started with a vivid dream about a cow.

Vegans Explore Podcast

Episode 55 · Dec 25, 2025 · 48 min

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From a Dream to a Food Bank

After years as a vegetarian for health reasons, Gwena describes a 2016 dream in which she experienced a cow's consciousness, followed days later by watching undercover dairy industry footage that pushed her fully vegan. She spent years doing vegan outreach and COVID-era food distribution in Los Angeles communities of color before launching her own vegan food bank in May, after partnering with an existing food bank operator who supplied the freezers, trucks, and staff she needed.

Serving 325 People in Two Hours

Her food bank runs the third Wednesday and Thursday of each month, with volunteers sorting donated produce on Wednesday and distribution happening Thursday, serving roughly 325 people in a single two-hour window, line wrapped around the corner before it even opens.

Distribution happens the third Thursday of each month in Los Angeles
Roughly 325 people are served in a two-hour period at each distribution
Volunteers and donation questions can go through vegansofla.com

Gwena closes on a message of planetary unity, describing it not as universal agreement but as people coming together for a shared cause even when they still disagree.