It may just be Southern California's longest drive-thru line.
But when these drivers pull up to the front, there's no window, fast food or even cashiers.
Instead, each car is met with a troop of volunteers, efficiently placing bundles of fresh produce and two weeks' worth of groceries in the trunk — all for free.
This is the Seva Collective food pantry in Santa Ana, California, a food desert — a geographic area where residents struggle to consistently access nutritious food.
Born in a crucial time of need at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this organization began as a scrappy operation — a handful of volunteers, food and toys purchased by the organizers themselves, and a dream to help a community dealing with food insecurity.
"When we first started, we were driving to LA downtown food market, we were driving to Central California to pick up citrus — we were kind of all over the place," said Seva Collective founder Bandana Singh.
Four million meals later, the Seva Collective has continued to grow, bringing on new volunteers, partnering with food banks, companies and farms, and hosting special toy and clothing drives.
"Our mission is to ensure that every family who comes through the drive receives fresh and shelf-stable food for their car or cart," stated Singh. "We see cars lining up as early as three or four in the morning, even though the drive doesn't start until 9:30 a.m. This shows us the pressing need, and we are committed to helping in any way we can."
The program has become a vital resource for the community, with local residents depending on it month after month to provide meals for their families, shared long-time participant Jody Watts.
"It eliminates the worry and anxiety of not having enough food for the family," Watts explained.
While many, like Watts, have been utilizing the pantry for an extended period, new faces appear each month, such as Laura Castro, who learned about Seva Collective through her children's school.
"With five kids, this support is invaluable to me," Castro expressed. "I hope my children leave here with big smiles on their faces."
Although the primary focus is on providing food to those in need, Seva Collective also prioritizes distributing fresh produce and unprocessed foods to promote healthy eating habits and combat systemic health issues in the local food desert community, according to Singh.
Food deserts are predominantly found in Black and Brown neighborhoods and low-income regions, often characterized by an abundance of fast food establishments and convenience stores selling unhealthy processed foods high in sugar, fat, and salt, as outlined by the Food Empowerment Project.
"We know that if they're not consuming fresh food, they're going to be consuming junk and then that's a systemic problem that leads to health issues down the line," Singh said. "So little steps now can hopefully help future generations and everyone's health as they continue to age."
While volunteers and recipients are from many different backgrounds, the founders' Sikh faith inspired the creation of the organization.
The name "Seva," comes from the concept of selfless service in the Sikh faith. And their slogan, "Sarbat da Bhalla," is a prayer for all of humanity to prosper, and inspires Sikhs to do good for all.
And that's just what this group is doing.
Each month, the Seva Collective distributes 60,000 pounds of food to more than 1,200 families.
In its most recent drive, the organization also distributed toys, books and clothes, partnering with brands like Young LA.
The special gift bags were given in celebration of Vaisakhi, one of the most religiously significant days of the year for Sikhs. It marks the birth of the Khalsa Panth and the recognition of Sikhs as a formal faith and community.
"We are celebrating Vaisakhi, which is when we became the collective that we are, and so we want to share that with community. We want everyone to be able to celebrate with us," Kaur said.
In addition to providing food, toys and other essentials, the organization has passed on the spirit of paying it forward. Watts, who has even volunteered with Seva Collective, said she tries to use what she gets from the drive to feed others in her community.
"It's given me a sense of being able to give back," Watts said. "I would never have had the means to help anybody else out. I'm recently disabled and having the extra food — and I love to cook — has made it available for me to go in my neighborhood to the homeless and feed them."
"If there's something we don't use, we give it to somebody else as well," another recipient, Charlene, said. "We try to help our neighbors out."
What is perhaps most remarkable about the whole operation are the volunteers who show up before sunrise, and days in advance, to make this drive happen — for nothing in return. Over 500 unique volunteers have shown up to help over the years — rain or shine.
"It's a labor of love, but I know when you see the cars and the number of cars and the number of people in line…it's making an impact, a positive impact on the community," said William Tarango, a teacher who has volunteered with Seva Collective for three and a half years. "It's nice to be around people that just want to serve, that just want to help."
Some volunteers find the early morning hustle of preparing for the drive and engaging with fellow workers to be invigorating.
"It's like a form of meditation for me because being surrounded by this incredible group of people and working here, what better way to start a Saturday morning," shared Chitoori.
Mehta, who has been bringing her children to volunteer at the drives since the pandemic, believes that while the pantry aids those in need, it has also left a lasting impression on her kids.
"The first time we came, my older son experienced it during COVID, and he witnessed the gratitude of everyone passing through the food lines, which really struck a chord with him," Mehta expressed. "I think this is a crucial activity to be a part of."
Singh mentioned that this initiative has allowed her to experience gratitude and humility, emphasizing that none of it would be achievable without the dedicated volunteers who devote their Saturday mornings to loading each car with food.
"I consider myself fortunate to work alongside such individuals throughout the year and I feel privileged that we can assist the families who come by," Singh expressed. "There's a whirlwind of emotions."
