Thumbnail photo: The FRC of the Redwoods’ Pacific Pantry has set up A Mighty Cause fundraising campaign to prepare for a surge of need should CalFresh benefits be suspended starting Saturday. | Photo courtesy of A Mighty Cause.
Updated at 4:31 p.m.:
Iya Mahan, food program director for the DNATL Community Food Council, said the Emergency Food Task Force has been activated in response to the potential suspension of SNAP benefits for Del Norte families.
Originally created to respond to natural disasters, Mahan said that with nearly 4,000 families that will be potentially impacted the task force is working together to come up with solutions.
“There have been a lot of people who want to get involved,” she told Redwood Voice Community News on Wednesday. “So we are making sure that we’re not duplicating efforts. For the people who want to get involved, I’m having them fill out a form so I can get them to the right people.”
The Emergency Food Task Force includes local food banks, Del Norte Unified School District’s Department of Nutrition Services, the Del Norte Office of Emergency Services and the Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information on food security resources, click here. Organizations that distribute food resources are asked to click on this link to fill out a short form.
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Original Post:
People are stepping up to ensure Del Norte families don’t go hungry next month, though District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey still hopes this was a “just how-prepared-are-you” kind of test.
After learning that an average of 3,900 families could be without their CalFresh benefits in November due to the federal government shutdown, Starkey said Monday that the community was “mobilizing.”
On Wednesday, she posted on Facebook that the Emergency Food Task Force met to ensure local food banks had the supplies and volunteers necessary to meet the increased need. It’s also coordinating resources with other community partners and churches.
“I think we’re locked in and ready to go for the short term,” Starkey told Redwood Voice Community News. “For now, this week, if (SNAP) stays suspended we’re good. The state is cooperating and making sure food banks get money. I feel confident that we can get people fed for at least two weeks.”
Pacific Pantry Food Director Marina MacNeil said since Monday, the California Department of Social Services has fast tracked the CalFoods grant dollars the food bank relies on to feed its clients. The Family Resource Center of the Redwoods, which operates the pantry, uses two grants, one for $36,000 and the other for $156,000, MacNeil said.
But, while she said she can start spending those dollars, MacNeil said she’s still waiting to hear if there will be more state funding.
“The more I spend now, the less I have later,” MacNeil said of the status of those CalFoods grant dollars.
Locally, the Del Norte Child Care Council is seeking donations for Pacific Pantry. According to Executive Director Carrie Castillo, the organization receives an anonymous donation every year and since it’s unrestricted “we could basically do whatever we want.”
In 24 hours, the Child Care Council has generated about $2,000 in donations, Castillo said. The organization plans to donate $5,000 to the FRC, she said.
“A lot of our families are on those programs, so it’s really important we still help them,” she said. “Also there are a lot of seniors needing help too.”
The Del Norte Healthcare District has also agreed to set aside funding for local food banks. The special district will have $20,000 available to local food banks, Board President Tonya Pearcey told Redwood Voice.
“If the government is still shut down on Nov. 1 and the funds are needed, then we will release those funds,” she said.
The Healthcare District has also set aside $12,000 for Del Norte Unified School District to feed children breakfast and lunch during Thanksgiving break, Pearcey said.
“If the shut down remains in effect on Nov. 1 and those funds are needed, all they have to do is ask our executive secretary and the funds will be sent to them,” she said.
DNUSD Nutrition Services Director Julie Carter-Bjorkstrand said families can sign up for a Thanksgiving break Extended Learning Opportunities program that includes breakfast, lunch and a snack if they register by Nov. 12.
Though state regulations state that districts can supply meals to students if they’re away from campus 10 school days or more, Carter-Bjorkstrand said that she’s working on other avenues for ensuring kids don’t go hungry.
“I’m waiting for groups and other people to get back to me and to find out if my ideas or my plans are workable,” she said. “I’m going to be saying it real loud once I get it figured out, making sure everyone knows about it.”
Seventy percent of Del Norte Unified School District students qualify for free and reduced meals, which means they are also eligible for CalFresh benefits, Carter-Bjorkstrand said. She added that there are currently no threats to DNUSD’s ability to feed students, though some people have expressed concern.
“With the federal government shutdown, what we will likely see is going to be a slowdown on the rates we get our reimbursement back from the government,” Carter-Bjorkstrand said. “It’s not going to impact day-to-day operations at all.”
On Facebook, Starkey mentioned that 25 states have sued, arguing that contingency funds could have been used to avoid the suspension of SNAP benefits in November if the government was still shut down.
California is one of those 25 states, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday, stating that 5.5 million residents statewide could lose $1.1 billion in food assistance.
Newsom also stated that he would mobilize the National Guard to support food banks.
On Wednesday, Starkey said that Emergency Food Task Force representatives stated that Del Norte would use local Community Emergency Response Team members to help food banks distribute to those in need.
“Currently Pacific Pantry serves 700 cases a month,” she said, adding that she was referring to both individuals and families. “If people lose SNAP benefits, that’s going to increase and it’s not just going to double, it’s probably going to triple.”
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Starkey also reiterated her concern for the loss of $1.1 million those CalFresh benefits equate to locally.
“You could use your CalFresh benefits at the Farmers Market,” she said. “If all 4,000 families went to the Farmers Market and spent $30 at Ocean Air Farms, that’s $120,000 this month Ocean Air Farms would not be receiving. Those are significant impacts to businesses.”
Over at Pacific Pantry, MacNeil said the food bank will be open every Saturday in November to reach more people. She said she’s still figuring out if the pantry will be open more hours during November, though she also pointed out that its mobile market serves Klamath, Smith River and Gasquet.
The possible suspension of SNAP benefits also comes as Pacific Pantry gears up for its holiday food drive, though MacNeil said they’re hoping for more donations than the fixings of a Thanksgiving meal.
“We’re looking for canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, rice, pasta (and) dried beans,” she said. “We do have a Mighty Cause running on our Facebook page right now if people want to donate monetarily. They’re also welcome to walk in and provide cash or a check and they’ll get a receipt for that from our front desk.”
