SUPPORT FOR WRITERS

Dear Humanitas Community,

As of March 5, Humanitas is discontinuing its regular Groceries for Writers grocery card distribution. Over nearly three years, the project dispersed nearly 3,500 gifts of support, representing over $306,000 in direct aid.

As many of you know, Groceries for Writers began as a project during the WGA Strike in 2023 and was intended to be temporary, but the level of need meant that it carried on for much longer.

As the project went on, we learned a great deal about you, heard many stories, and built a picture of how food insecurity affects writers, assistants, and others in the community.

To better understand and illuminate the issue and its causes, we published two reports on food insecurity among screenwriters, with the goal of detailing the realities of the situation and the structural inequities in the business that make food insecurity pervasive.

While the regular grocery card distribution will no longer operate, the infrastructure we’ve built will allow us to activate rapid support in times of emergency and to remain responsive to urgent needs, as we did during the January 2025 Southern California Wildfires.

Thank you again for your trust and your solidarity. 1,500 donors came together in support of storytellers and it’s been our honor to facilitate your care for one another.

Writers forever,

The Humanitas Staff

To support feature film and television writers in our community as they stand for fair pay and protections in the workplace, recognizing that this action may result in financial hardship for writers and their families, Humanitas began distributing grocery store gift cards to WGA writers in need on May 8, 2023, to WGA writers and later writer’s support staff (writers assistants, writers PAs, script coordinators, and showrunner's assistants).

NOTE: Groceries for Writers has a distribution cap on grocery cards. As of February 20, 2025, writers who have received six or more cards from Humanitas will not receive additional cards. The project is currently prioritizing support for WGA writers and their support staff who have been displaced by the 2025 Los Angeles Fires (i.e.: lost their homes).

Humanitas ran surveys on food insecurity in the screenwriting community in 2023 and 2024.

The 2023 survey was announced in The Hollywood Reporter. It was available online, and could be taken by writers at any stage of their career. An analysis of those results can be found here.

In 2025, the 2023 and 2024 surveys were analyzed and the results published in a 40-page report that can be downloaded at the page linked in the button below.

click here to view the food insecurity report

PROJECT UPDATES

Since beginning the project in May 2023, Humanitas distributed 3,491 gifts of support:

3,091 grocery cards
300 farm bundles
100 school supply support gifts

February 2026 Updates

Humanitas distributed 12 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff in February 2026, bringing the total distributed to 3,091.

January 2026 Updates

Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff in January 2026, bringing the total distributed to 3,079.

December 2025 Updates

Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff in December 2025, bringing the total distributed to 3,077.

November 2025 Updates

Humanitas distributed 7 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff in November 2025, bringing the total distributed to 3,072.

October 2025 Updates

October 27: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,065.

October 21: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,062.

October 8: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,059.

September 2025 Updates

September 29: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,058.

September 17: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,057.

September 6: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,055.

August 2025 Updates

August 22: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,053.

July 2025 Updates

July 16: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,051.

June 2025 Updates

June 18: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,050.

June 11: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,048.

May 2025 Updates

May 14: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,046.

May 7: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,045.

April 2025 Updates

April 24: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,042.

April 17: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,041.

April 9: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,038.

March 2025 Updates

Week of March 31: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,037.

March 26: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,034.

March 19: Humanitas distributed 4 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,033.

March 12: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,029.

March 6: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,028.

February 2025 Updates

February 26: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,026.

February 19: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,024.

February 12: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,021.

February 5: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 3,016.

January 2025 Updates

January 16-31: Humanitas distributed 21 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, many impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles Fires, bringing the total distributed to 3,008.

January 8-15: Humanitas distributed 42 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles Fires, bringing the total distributed to 2,987.

January 7: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,945.

2024 Project Updates:

December 20: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,943.
December 11: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,935.
December 5: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,934.
November 26: Humanitas distributed 9 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,932.
November 13: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,923.
November 6: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,920.
October 30: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,915.
October 23: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,913.
October 16: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,905.
October 10: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,903.
October 2: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,898.
September 25: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,890.
September 18: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,889.
September 13: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,888.
September 5: Humanitas distributed 6 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,880.
August 28: Humanitas distributed 11 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,874.
August 21: Humanitas distributed 9 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,863.
August 16: Humanitas distributed 9 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,850.
August 7: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,841.
July 3: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery card to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,836.
June 26: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,835.
June 20: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,833.
June 12: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,830.
June 5: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,828.
May 29: Humanitas distributed 4 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,826.
May 24: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,822.
May 15: Humanitas distributed 4 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,817.
May 1: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,813.
April 17: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,810.
April 11: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,808.
April 4: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,807.
March 27: Humanitas distributed 2 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,804.
March 13: Humanitas distributed 1 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,802.
March 6: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,801.
February 21: Humanitas distributed 3 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,798.
February 14: Humanitas distributed 4 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,795.
February 7: Humanitas distributed 5 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,791.
January 31: Humanitas distributed 4 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,786.
January 24: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,782.
January 17: Humanitas distributed 16 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,774.
January 10: Humanitas distributed 8 grocery cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,758.

2023 Project Updates:

December 15: Humanitas distributed 504 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,750.

December 6: Humanitas distributed 16 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,246.
November 29: Humanitas distributed 32 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 2,230.

November 24: Over the course of the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Humanitas distributed 485 grocery cards, bringing the total cards distributed to 2,193.

November 17: Over the course of the week, Humanitas distributed 52 cards to the WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,714.

November 12: Humanitas will participate in the WGA Strike Unite Sunday Solidarity Brunch. Click here to learn more.

November 8: Humanitas distributed 21 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,662.

November 1: Humanitas distributed 8 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,641.
October 25: Humanitas distributed 14 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,633.

October 18: Humanitas distributed 8 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,619.

October 11: Humanitas distributed 17 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,611.

October 4: Humanitas distributed 23 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,594.
September 27: Humanitas distributed 66 cards to WGA writers and support staff, bringing the total distributed to 1,571.

September 24: Humanitas distributed 100 farm bundles, bringing the total to 300.

September 22: Humanitas issued 31 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,505.

September 19: Humanitas issued 29 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,474.

September 15: Humanitas issued 20 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,445.

September 12: Humanitas issued 20 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,425.

September 8: Humanitas issued 67 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,405.

September 1: Humanitas issued 35 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,338.

Humanitas recognizes that this time of year comes with other costs as students are returning to schools and receiving supply requests. To subsidize these costs, Humanitas ran a "Back to School Special" under the umbrella of the Groceries for Writers project to serve WGA Member Families. 100 students were supported by this project.
August 29: Humanitas issued 30 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,303.

August 25: Humanitas issued 16 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,273.

August 22: Humanitas issued 8 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,257.

August 18: Humanitas issued 18 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,249.

August 15: Humanitas issued 24 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,231.
August 12: Humanitas distributed approximately 80 CSA produce and shelf-stable bundles for WGA writers in the Los Angeles area.

August 11: Humanitas issued 29 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,207.

August 8: Humanitas issued 15 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,178.

August 4: Humanitas issued 26 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,163.

August 1: Humanitas issued 24 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,137.
July 28: Humanitas sent 46 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed up to 1,112.
July 26: Humanitas distributed 49 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total number of cards sent to 1,066.
July 21: Humanitas issued 18 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 1,018.
July 19: Humanitas distributed its 1,000th e-gift card.
Additionally, Humanitas hosted a table at a WGA picket line and gave away $600 in grocery support to WGA raffle winners.
July 14: Humanitas distributed 14 e-gift cards to WGA writers, including six to WGA Lot Captains in recognition of WGA Captain Appreciation Day, bringing the total number of grocery cards issued to 659.
July 13: To address ongoing need, Humanitas announced the Groceries for Writers project is now accepting requests for additional support from WGA East and WGA West writers, even if they have already received a grocery card.
More information on how to request additional support can be found here.
July 12: 14 e-gift cards were distributed to WGA writers, raising the total of cards sent to WGA writers to 645.
July 7: Humanitas sent 11 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total distributed to 631.
July 5: Humanitas issued 16 e-gift cards to WGA writers, bringing the total number distributed up to 620.
July 2: Humanitas distributed approximately 40 CSA produce and shelf-stable bundles for WGA writers in the Los Angeles area.
June 30: Humanitas supplied e-gift cards to 4 additional WGA writers, increasing the total number distributed to 604.
June 28: Humanitas supplied e-gift cards to 7 WGA writers, bringing the total distributed up to 600. Humanitas also opened registration for a second free farm bundle pickup in partnership with Earth Matterz and Paper or Plastik Cafe.
June 23: Humanitas supplied e-gift cards to 14 WGA writers throughout the week, bringing the total distributed to 593.
June 17: Humanitas supplied e-gift cards to 51 WGA writers throughout the week, bringing the total distributed to 579.
June 10: Humanitas distributed 50 CSA produce and shelf-stable bundles for WGA writers in the Los Angeles area.
June 8: Humanitas sent an additional 59 e-gift cards over the course of the week, bringing the total distributed up to 528.
June 7: Humanitas expanded its Groceries for Writers effort to include a free farm bundle pickup in partnership with Earth Matterz and Paper or Plastik Cafe.
June 2: Humanitas sent an additional 24 e-gift cards over the course of the week, bringing the total distributed up to 469.
May 26: Humanitas sent an additional 56 e-gift cards, bringing the total distributed up to 445.
May 19: Humanitas sent an additional 20 e-gift cards, bringing the total distributed up to 389. In addition, Humanitas delivered 19 picket line and family care packages to WGA writers.
May 16: Humanitas sent a second round of 169 e-gift cards. The recipients of this round were determined on a first come, first served basis with priority going to early career writers.
May 12: Humanitas sent a first round of 200 e-gift cards. The recipients of this first round were determined on a first come, first served basis with priority going to early career writers.
May 8: Groceries for Writers launched.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WRITERS

Sometimes donors leave notes of encouragement for our staff, but oftentimes, the notes are for writers. We wanted to collect and present them in a video teaser so the folx we’re supporting can feel the love and be inspired by them. Click the button below to view them all.

click here to view more quotes

Special Thanks To Our Donors

Since launching on May 8, 2023, Humanitas has received over
1,800 individual donations for Groceries for Writers.

Donors hail from 49 states, Washington D.C., and the Marshall Islands. International donations have come in from 29 countries across the globe, spanning both hemispheres.