In the first few months of 2017, the San Francisco Human Services Agency started to notice some disturbing numbers connected to people who enroll for CalFresh benefits, or who maintain their status with the program.
March saw a 150 percent jump in the number of enrolled residents who asked to be taken off the program. The increase comes amidst a political climate that has sparked a rash of questions from participants, ranging from whether their personal information would be released to the federal government, to whether the new administration would start making cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP – as it’s known federally.
With May being CalFresh Awareness Month, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank joined HSA officials in co-hosting a public forum on the topic. The event brought together a number of other stake holders to talk more about CalFresh, how vitally important it is to managing the state’s hunger problem, and to urge lawmakers to do more to protect it on the local, state and federal level.
NEWS COVERAGE
Read more about the forum from San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Tara Duggan here.
KTSF Channel 26 did a story about the forum…view that story here.
and listen to this story from KCBS Reporter Jenna Lane below.
CalFresh is a federally funded supplemental nutrition benefit (known nationally as SNAP) that increases meal budgets and access to better nutrition for low-income households. Currently, 4 million Californians are being served by this important program, but many more eligible residents are not enrolled.
May is Calhttp://www.sfmfoodbank.org/programs/food-stamp-outreach/Fresh Awareness Month.
For more on CalFresh, visit our website here.
Bloom Farms may be a cannabis company, but as Executive Director Michael Ray makes clear, its mission has always focused equally on delivering a superior product and giving back to the community.
“I wanted corporate social responsibility to be at the core of our company’s values,” Ray says.
Read SF Weekly reporter Zack Ruskin’s piece on the unique partnership that has blossomed between the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and Bloom Farms: Bloom Farms Brings Charity to Cannabis
A Washington Post article, citing information from Feeding America, found that food banks around the nation are beefing up their nutritious offerings. We at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank have been ahead of the curve on the issue.
On May 14th, 2017, KCBS Radio conducted a phone interview on the topic with Food Bank PR Manager Mark Seelig…
Listen to that interview here
We at the Food Bank prided ourselves on being leaders in the community. So it wasn’t a big surprise to learn that one of our own was recognized as a leader recently. This time on two wheels!
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has recognized Food Bank MarComm Director, Maria Stokes, as this year’s Bike Commuter of the Year.
“Biking is the perfect way to start my day. Coffee can’t compare! My ride to work at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank gets my heart pumping and kickstarts my creativity.” She says
You can hear more from Maria and her commitment to a healthy, car-free way to work in this story from KCBS reporter Doug Sovern, which aired on May 11th, 2017 – Bike to Work Day.
You can read more about Maria in this wonderful Bicycle Coalition profile.
2017 Bike Commuter of the Year
May is CalFresh Awareness Month, and we think it’s more important than ever to protect this vital nutrition program.
Formerly known as food stamps, CalFresh benefits low-income individuals and families with monthly stipends to buy nutritious groceries. Unfortunately, only about half of eligible households in California are enrolled. The Food Bank has an outreach team in place, dedicated to getting more eligible people signed up for the program.
But it’s been an uphill climb lately. Some recipients have begun to un-enroll for a variety of reasons. Recent statistics, compiled by the Human Services Agency of San Francisco, confirm this trend.
KTVU Fox 2 reporter Claudine Wong reports on the state of CalFresh, and local efforts to protect it.
https://www.facebook.com/bayareapeople/videos/10158728664230271/
For more information on CalFresh and the Food Bank’s outreach efforts, click here.
Meet 94-year-old Betty Ann, who enrolled in our Ingleside Community Center pantry in San Francisco several years ago – not only to get fresh delicious food every week, but to develop new friendships. KTVU Fox 2 reporter Claudine Wong recently caught up to Betty Ann and brings us her story (click below).
Donate to programs that help neighbors like Betty Ann.
https://www.facebook.com/bayareapeople/videos/10158666313585271/
Read more about Betty Ann’s BFFs on our blog.
In February, the Food Bank took extraordinary steps to address real concerns in the community that programs, like ours, were unsafe for immigrants to visit, due to new directives coming out of Washington DC. Our Executive Director, Paul Ash, affirmed our commitment that everybody is welcome at the Food Bank, no matter their immigration status.
The story is resonating with our supporters and participants, and even garnered some extensive media attention. The Marin Independent Journal recently devoted three separate days of coverage to the issue.
Here is the original story about the Food Bank’s stance on the issue, from reporter Richard Halstead that outlines the issues.
That was followed by this Political Cartoon, created by George Russell.
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Which was then followed up by this editorial, published the very next day.
For more on Paul’s letter to the community, click here.
And to see our “All Are Welcome Here” campaign on our Facebook page, click here.
With 1 in 4 residents of San Francisco and Marin in need of food assistance right now, unique partnerships are needed now more than ever. Fortunately, SF State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is stepping up this week. It’s hosting it’s 7th annual student food drive to combat hunger (2/20-2/24).
You can read more about the effort, and it’s impact on the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank here.
In a recent letter to the community, Food Bank Executive Director Paul Ash helped outline our mission in these challenging times. “We want you to know that no matter what is happening in our country, you are welcome at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and throughout our partner network. We will continue to provide nutritious food to residents of Marin and San Francisco regardless of a person’s citizenship or immigration status.” he wrote.
Paul Ash, and Food Bank partner, Pastor Miguel Nunez of Casa de Barro, reiterate the message that “All Are Welcome Here” during a recent interview with KTVU Channel 2 Reporter Claudine Wong.
Watch the story here.
We know that 1 in 4 of our neighbors in San Francisco and Marin is struggling with food insecurity. It’s a simple matter of not having enough money to put together 3 square meals a day. While the problem is far reaching, seniors seem to be most affected because they live on fixed incomes. As a result, they are constantly forced to make tough budgetary decisions.
KQED Reporter Brian Watt takes a deeper look at the the issue. He spoke with Food Bank participant Yvonne Macalino while “Evie” was picking-up her weekly groceries at the Food Bank’s Silver Exchange Food Pantry.
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