House of Victory and LA Regional Food Bank Team Up to Make Major Meal Moves

Ever wonder how much muscle USC student-athletes have to flex? Well, when it comes to fighting food insecurity, House of Victory’s recent partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB) is showing that it’s a whole lot. LARFB mobilizes resources to fight hunger in the community, and through NIL opportunities with House of Victory, USC football student-athletes are stepping up and flexing their muscles to give back to the community in meaningful ways.

LARFB has a long history of service and has distributed over 1.9 billion pounds of food since its inception in 1973. Over the course of a handful of shifts this summer, House of Victory student-athletes have spent more than 107 hours working at the food bank, which has resulted in nearly 58,000 pounds of food sorted, contributing to a whopping 48,000 meals.

“We do football all the time and the community supports that, so when we give back to them, we find joy in it,” said Braylan Shelby, sophomore defensive lineman and House of Victory student-athlete. “I know people come from harder places than I do, and I have an opportunity to give back and just show my gratitude.”

Volunteer support is critical for LARFB to continue its mission in an effective manner.

“House of Victory and USC student-athletes are a big part of our community. It's really great for them to come and use their sweat equity to help us move food and provide meals to families,” said LARFB’s Chief Development Officer, Roger Castle. “Our vision is that no one in Los Angeles County goes hungry, and so we want to provide enough food to feed those people and their families that are food insecure.”

Castle elaborated on the food bank’s operations, highlighting the logistics involved in managing millions of pounds of food donated by farmers, retailers and growers. The food is sorted, gleaned and distributed either through 600 partner nonprofits and faith-based organizations or directly through mobile food pantries and other programs. Additionally, LARFB engages the community in supporting hunger relief efforts, promoting hunger and nutrition education, raising awareness and advocating for policies that benefit those they serve.

Partnerships like these allow House of Victory to provide impactful NIL opportunities for student-athletes, connect and foster the relationship between student-athletes and their community and directly impact deserving organizations and the people they serve.

“Putting our athletes in a position to give back to their communities is central to who we are,” said House of Victory Executive Director, Spencer Harris. “Through partnerships like these, House of Victory is helping our athletes build their brand, confirm their values and make a tangible difference.”

Not to mention, NIL opportunities like this one are fun and fulfilling.

“I really enjoy it here,” said Elijah Hughes, sophomore defensive lineman and House of Victory student-athlete. “It’s a good time to get to know my teammates a little bit better while also serving the community.”

During their visits, HOV student-athletes assist with a variety of tasks, usually centered around sorting and packing fresh produce. Student-athletes remove any rotten, moldy or otherwise inedible product and package the remaining pieces to be distributed.

"It's pretty fun, it’s kind of like a game, like an assembly line, [and] we try to see how fast and efficiently we can get it done,” said Shelby. “It’s just a blessing to be here and to be able to give back."

House of Victory will continue to work with various groups of student-athletes in support of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, exemplifying the power of NIL opportunities to increase community engagement and address food insecurity.