Help Me Help You is launching its “Nutrition Knights Grocery Grab N Go” service to 9th District residents in need at McKinley Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 24, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

School children, families and all residents in need are invited to join the festivities and receive free nutritious groceries, essential community services information and gifts, as well as meet the Nutrition Knight.

Help Me Help You operates its Nutrition Knights Grocery Grab N Go services at various schools and community locations. The organization also operates a food pantry delivery to older adults in need.

The new location at McKinley Elementary School, located at 6822 Paramount Blvd., will operate every second and fourth Friday. It’s meant to meet increasing need due to inflation rates and rising food prices, according to a statement.

Help Me Help You prioritizes placing its Nutrition Knights locations in service areas with the greatest need and highest rates of food insecurity; at McKinley Elementary School, approximately 91.6% of students are on free and reduced lunch assistance, compared to the state average of 60.7%.

“We are so excited to partner with HMHY to provide our families and our community with healthy groceries and meals,” Dulnari Edirisinghe-Aga, McKinley Elementary School principal, said in a statement.

The addition of this Nutrition Knights Grocery Grab N Go location is made possible with the support of a food access grant from Long Beach as well as support from other sponsors.

“This food pantry increases our presence in North Long Beach and it allows us to connect with schools where over 80% of the students qualify for services,” said Help Me Help You executive director Zina Washington. “We thank the City of Long Beach for partnering with us to begin this pantry location and thank our long-term sponsor, No Kid Hungry.”