WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department came together Friday to host the Seventh Annual Central Coast CalFresh Forum.
From 8 a.m-2 p.m. community leaders, advocates and policy makers met to learn about CalFresh’s policies and discuss food security issues on national, state and local levels.
CalFresh, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a food assistance program which provides access to food for low-income households in California.
“This is about bringing awareness to the community,” said Joel Campos, director of community outreach at Second Harvest. “And it’s also a time to recognize what people have already accomplished.”
Award winners at this year’s forum included Jim Dale, the County of Santa Cruz’s Program Manager of the Employment and Benefit Services Division, who was recognized for innovating the way people apply for the CalFresh program. Maria Cameron of the Santa Cruz Downtown Street Team was also awarded for her work with the local homeless community.
Others recognized included Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst, Luis Parra, Lourdes Pollard, as well as UC Santa Cruz’s Rosalinda Gallegos and Yunuen Lopez-Garcia.
At one point, Andrew Cheyne, California Association of Food Bank’s Director of Government Affairs, announced some breaking news out of Washington D.C: The House’s rejection of the Republican food and farm bill. The bill, which had drawn criticism from Democrats for its cuts to food benefits, was shot down early Friday.
Attendees of the CalFresh Forum enjoyed a complimentary lunch, as well as yoga and Zumba breaks, in between the various speakers throughout the day. Keynote speaker was MariaElena De La Garza, executive director of the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County.
Second Harvest Food Bank has been promoting CalFresh for 14 years. Campos said the two work together well, as their objectives are similar.
“It goes along with what we believe,” Campos said. “That is that no one in our community should ever have to go hungry.”
To learn about CalFresh assistance, visit thefoodbank.org or call Second Harvest’s Community Food Hotline at 662-0991.
