AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is celebrating a significant milestone at the Rose Parade on January 1 with an exciting float themed after “Jack and the Beanstalk.” This year, the focus is on AHF’s “Food for Health” program, which fights hunger and food insecurity. In 2025 alone, this program helped over 500,000 people nationwide by providing weekly grocery deliveries.
The float is a vibrant display. It features a giant Jack climbing up a beanstalk, surrounded by oversized vegetables like pumpkins, tomatoes, and strawberries. There’s even a classic pickup truck decked out for a farmers’ market, emphasizing the initiative’s connection to healthy food access.
AHF’s Food for Health program is dedicated to hosting free food pantries and farmers’ markets across the country. This includes providing “Heroes Pantries” for veterans and their families at the West L.A. Veterans Center. The program also quickly responded to the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire last January, partnering with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Within hours of the fire’s outbreak, they delivered hot meals to first responders and continued helping over the following weeks by providing more than 75,000 meals.
Additionally, AHF was among the first to respond after the Eaton fire, offering clothing and essentials to evacuees and distributing another 60,000 hot meals. This swift action underscores the organization’s commitment to community support during crises.
Riders on the float include prominent advocates like Dolores Huerta, known for her work in labor rights and civil rights. Other participants represent various community groups, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the initiative.
The Rose Parade kicks off at 8 a.m. on January 1 at the intersections of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards in Pasadena. You can learn more about AHF’s efforts at aidshealth.org and foodforhealthahf.org.
The impact of programs like AHF’s is crucial, especially as food insecurity rates continue to rise. According to recent statistics, over 38 million people in the U.S. are facing hunger, highlighting the urgent need for initiatives that provide support and resources. AHF’s work not only addresses immediate needs but also promotes long-term solutions for health and wellness through access to nutritious food.
