The California Association of Food Banks' (of which we are a member) Farm to Family Program was recognized at the White House on June 30 when President Obama highlighted innovative non-profit programs that are making a difference in communities across the country. The program was recognized as one that is demonstrating results even as the country faces difficult times. Such groups, Obama said, hold the promise of finding solutions to persistent problems and to meeting unprecedented challenges. Farm to Family founder Gary Maxworthy attended the event because of his role in shaping the program since its inception.
Congratulations to Gary and the entire Farm to Family team!
Learn more:
KRON4-San Francisco
San Francisco Food Bank Blog
Monday, August 3, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Budget Update: Dismantling the Safety Net
The budget deal between Governor Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders passed both the Senate and Assembly on Friday, July 24. CalWORKs and other health and human service programs suffered deep and harsh cuts while nothing was done to bring in new revenue and therefore spread the sacrifice. Additionally, the deal expands finger imaging to In-Home Support Services, meaning the elderly and disabled will be forced to provide a fingerprint in order to receive services.
Despite the claims of legislative leaders, there is little doubt that these cuts go a long way in dismantling California's safety net. While the shock of these cuts begins to sink in, it appears, but has not been confirmed, that the California Food Assistance Program and the Brown Bag Program survived without cuts - a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud of a budget.
CalWORKs
The deal cuts $528 million from CalWORKs by decreasing benefits and increasing sanctions for families that fail to meet work requirements. The bill also reduces children's grants for the first time in the history of the CalWORKs program. These cuts will punish low-income families who cannot find work and therefore force these families to make difficult choices between food, rent, utilities and other basic needs.
Cost of Living Adjustments
This budget repeals SSP and CalWORKs COLAs along with COLAs for almost every area of the state budget except K-12 education and requires any new COLAs be approved by a two-thirds vote.
Click here for more details on the budget from the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
Despite the claims of legislative leaders, there is little doubt that these cuts go a long way in dismantling California's safety net. While the shock of these cuts begins to sink in, it appears, but has not been confirmed, that the California Food Assistance Program and the Brown Bag Program survived without cuts - a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud of a budget.
CalWORKs
The deal cuts $528 million from CalWORKs by decreasing benefits and increasing sanctions for families that fail to meet work requirements. The bill also reduces children's grants for the first time in the history of the CalWORKs program. These cuts will punish low-income families who cannot find work and therefore force these families to make difficult choices between food, rent, utilities and other basic needs.
Cost of Living Adjustments
This budget repeals SSP and CalWORKs COLAs along with COLAs for almost every area of the state budget except K-12 education and requires any new COLAs be approved by a two-thirds vote.
Click here for more details on the budget from the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Defend Against Hunger
The Miromonte High School Football team is hosting a food drive and your team could be too! Contact Joan Tomasini at (800) 870-FOOD extension 208 or jtomasini@foodbankccs.org.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Got fruit?
Attention residents in the Danville/Alamo area: did you know someone local is willing to harvest and/or deliver local fruit to the Food Bank or other neighborhood pantries?
Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady, says, "Mira is super sweet and interested in helping more. The word is just beginning to get around about her efforts. She has made several donations, driving all the way from Alamo to Concord to deliver fresh fruit to The Salvation Army and Share Food Pantry. Mira is very dedicated to the hunger cause."
Thank Mira and Anna for all the hard work you are doing!
Fresh fruit in the garden and what to do with it...
Anna Chan, The Lemon Lady, says, "Mira is super sweet and interested in helping more. The word is just beginning to get around about her efforts. She has made several donations, driving all the way from Alamo to Concord to deliver fresh fruit to The Salvation Army and Share Food Pantry. Mira is very dedicated to the hunger cause."
Thank Mira and Anna for all the hard work you are doing!
Fresh fruit in the garden and what to do with it...
Friday, June 19, 2009
Target Store Team Leaders Volunteer
Recently, Target Store Team Leaders of the East Bay came to the Food Bank to help sort through donated food, inspect it for damage and box it for distribution. It was such a pleasure to have the team here at the Food Bank. Target donations make a real difference to food banks like ours and to the communities we all serve. Please read a message below to Volunteer Manager, Sharon Zeppegno from Target Store Team Leader, Joanie Stewart.
Hello Sharon,
Thank you very much for coordinating such a fabulous volunteer activity with the Target Store Team Leaders of the East Bay and your organization.
In addition to having fun, the activity was worthwhile work. We all felt such a great sense of pride and joy knowing that what we did, would be making a difference in the lives of others.
We are looking forward to working with The Food Bank on another volunteer activity soon.
Thank you.
Joanie Stewart - Store Team Leader - Vallejo
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Hello Sharon,
Thank you very much for coordinating such a fabulous volunteer activity with the Target Store Team Leaders of the East Bay and your organization.
In addition to having fun, the activity was worthwhile work. We all felt such a great sense of pride and joy knowing that what we did, would be making a difference in the lives of others.
We are looking forward to working with The Food Bank on another volunteer activity soon.
Thank you.
Joanie Stewart - Store Team Leader - Vallejo
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