Our federal district court has undertaken an unprecedented (to our knowledge) program to provide food assistance to people in its criminal diversion programs, called ReNew and POP. Named “Danny’s Pantry,” in remembrance of the fourth anniversary of the tragic death of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, the program was initiated by the court—both judges and staff—and approved by the Board of Judges.

To be introduced on July 18, 2024, the program will be financed through donations and staffed by volunteers from the courthouse and neighboring federal agencies (as well as law school interns). The commitment of the “federal family” is illustrated by the sweat equity of, among others, senior members of the Office of Public Defender and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in spackling, painting and otherwise converting the former coffee shop on the first floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse into a first-class food bank.