Then & Now
By Judy Salamacha ~
Hunger in America rarely makes headlines.
In fact, if Americans can agree on anything it would most likely be that hunger should not exist within the borders of the richest breadbasket in the world and yet is does.
Over the years, the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County has developed programs to improve distribution efforts working with 200 partners — agencies and volunteers — and developed programs to focus on healthy food choices. And now the agency is turning its focus on childhood obesity.
Aracely Aceves Lozano, Food Banks’ director of community relations, said in 2006 the organization provided 3 million pounds of food countywide and 20% was produce. In 2014, produce made up 50% of 6.1 million pounds of food products distributed.
Lozano sited their “Children’s Farmers Market,” a recently developed program that encourages children to develop healthy eating and food buying habits. “We partner with schools and after-school programs to provide fresh produce to students,” she said. “The program works similar to a community farmer’s market. Children are provided a reusable bag and mock money, or ‘food bank bucks’ they use to choose produce they want to purchase to take home to share with their families.”
The children typically take home 15 pounds of in-season produce like potatoes, apples, oranges, pomegranates, cabbage, lemons, sweet limes, pears, and red-leaf lettuce, she added. The produce is either harvested locally through the GleanSLO Program or comes from the California Association of Food Banks.
A variety of unique programs are detailed on the Food Bank website, including a Senior Farmer’s Market Program, GleanSLO, Harvest Bag, and emergency food assistance programs.
One of the Food Bank’s annual fund-raising efforts is the upcoming Hunger Walk at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 in Morro Bay. Lozano believes when there is collaboration of many partners and contributors to support the needs of the hungry in the county, the Food Bank can achieve its ultimate goal — to end hunger one step at a time.
This year’s Hunger Walk starts at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on Kennedy Way, strolls through the eclectic Downtown area, connects to Morro Bay’s scenic Harbor Walk on the Embarcadero and finishes at Morro Rock. The family event is an easy, 1 mile walk that concludes with music and refreshments and the good feelings that each dollar raised will provide $10 of relief for the 44,000 residents in SLO County who are at risk of being hungry or who are food insecure, often not knowing where their next meal will come from. Children under-18 make up 40% of the people the Food Bank serves, while 12% are seniors.
The Hunger Walk began in 2006 as the “Crop Walk” and produced by the Trinity United Methodist Church in Los Osos in conjunction with worldwide walks produced by Church World Service. For two years their efforts included donations to the Food Bank. In 2008, People of Faith for Justice coalesced the various partners to create the SLO Hunger Walk. The event continued to support international relief, but focused on developing funds to fight local hunger relief programs at the Food Bank.
In 2010 the Food Bank stepped up as the coordinating agency to develop walks in various communities countywide – building on existing partnerships. Hunger Walks were held in Los Osos, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Last year efforts were concentrated into one, mega-walk and moved to Morro Bay. Lozano credits the original and continuing partners for their efforts to build a program that raised over $40,000 in 2014. The goal in 2015 is $60,000.
Advance registration for the Hunger Walk is preferred, however, onsite registration begins at 1 p.m. at St. Timothy’s or readers can donate to support other teams. Families and individuals are welcome. Registration and information is at www.slofoodbank.org/events/hunger-walk or call the Food Bank Coalition at (805) 238-4664.
Judy Salamacha’s Then & Now column is special to Tolosa Press. Reach her at: [email protected] or call 801-1422.
