Burbank Temporary Aid Center

I started volunteering here in January 2016. The moment I came to the rear entrance and was greeted warmly by Kelly, I knew I found the right place to volunteer. The facility is clean, all of the staff are very friendly; Edward, the food pantry supervisor, and Kelly, are very knowledgeable and will answer any questions, give instruction as needed, etc. They make every attempt to accommodate your schedule. The volunteering is very rewarding; I feel so much a part of the community and feel I am really helping the community by filling pantry orders, answering questions, serving daily hot/​cold lunches, stocking shelves, etc. It is a busy facility, so there are always tasks to be done. I enjoy volunteering here, not only because I serve a community but also because I meet very nice people and keep physically active. I have found most of the clientele to be very appreciative of our efforts and get «thank-​you, much appreciated, God bless you», every day. I would highly recommend BTAC to anyone interested in volunteering.
Please note that BTAC is a nonprofit organization offering many services, including the food pantry, showers, laundry, medical assistance, and transportation assistance to the needy and homeless in Burbank. It is a great organization doing its best to satisfy the needs of many local residents.

Team-​building experience. Totally hard work stacking can goods, but worth it.

This organization is a blessing to Burbank. If you are in need of help, contact them. If you have the means to donate, support them.
I bring regular donations from my business in Burbank. It’s the cleanest and most organized pantry I have ever seen.
Thank you for all you do to help this community!

What’s your New Year resolution? Perhaps (like every year), it is to shed those holiday pounds. Maybe it is to spend more time with your family. Or, to write more Unilocal reviews. Those are all great, but how about instead making an effort to volunteer or donate time/​goods to a non-​profit organization? They will benefit, you will feel good… everyone wins!
The Burbank Temporary Aid Center is more than just a food bank; they are a non-​profit providing various services to the poor or homeless such as: transportation assistance, utility assistance, showers for the homeless to get squeaky clean, medical assistance, etc. Plus, of course the much-​needed food aspect. Whether you are a volunteer or someone seeking help, the Burbank Temporary Aid Center is at your service.
Although I am going through financial strife myself, I had a few food and hygienic items I wanted to donate (donations are taken at the rear of the building from 9am-​noon and then again from 1:30– 5pm). I walked into the center lobby, as I wasn’t sure where to drop my donations off and was greeted by two women. Even more eye-​popping? The facilities! Clean, modern, and gentle; it looked like a doctor’s office. I’ve been to other food banks where you are surrounded by dirt and it makes you even more uncomfortable asking for help or volunteering. That is not the case at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. Like the rest of Burbank, this is upper-​middle class.
Donating was quick and easy. There are volunteers available to help retrieve the goods from your car (they accept unopened cans, prepared foods, and hygienic products) and will also write you a receipt for tax deductions. You will be in and out in minutes, and will leave with the satisfaction of helping others.
My major complaint is their limited service and attitude. The food pantry area was stocked with food more than my local Ralph’s. I’m not talking expired 99 Cent Store goods, I’m talking Trader Joes and name-​brand yummy goodies. Way better than I eat! I was specifically told that they only help Burbank residents. No wonder there is so much extra food! If you can afford to live in Burbank, you can afford to feed yourself. With all that extra food available, the Temporary Aid Center should perhaps expand to helping nearby North Hollywood residents. Isn’t that what «helping» is about?
Furthermore, the employees/​volunteers have an attitude problem which really deters from me donating more to their organization. I clearly stated that I, myself, could use some help and they didn’t even have any suggestions, merely based on my lack of Burbank citizenship. Furthermore, when calling them on the phone, they were very pretentious and cold in attitude, again merely because I was seeking information but live in North Hollywood versus Burbank. This is NOT in the spirit of giving and turns me off from wanting to donate my time or goods to them further. Sounds like I may have to continue to search for a positive place to donate my food products!
Whether a New Year’s resolution to help others or you just want to clean out your food cabinets, Burbank Temporary Aid Center may be your go-​to non-​profit. Remember: if you are seeking help, make sure you live in Burbank or otherwise they look down on you and don’t care to help.