LAKEPORT >> Perhaps it was a change in the weather or the onrush of holidays but the Board of Supervisors dug into the kitty to help the county’s less fortunate with assistance to put food on the table this winter.
Board Chair Jessica Pyska said expanding site capacity at distributers Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Lake County Gleaners is critical because of the high cost of food nowadays. District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier explained he and Pyska collaborated regarding food insecurity with Gleaners and Redwood. “We focused on how not to split the pie but how to grow the pie,” he said. “We’re looking for ways to serve food needs for Lake County and make it easier to do what’s needed.” He added he saw a recent report showing 51 percent of the county does not have adequate food.
Psyka pointed out each board district has a discretionary fund they can manage for specific needs. “So, I’d like to give Gleaners and Redwood $5,000 each for the holiday season,” she said. “So, any other board members if you have availability in your district budget, please help with this incredible need in the winter season. Because it sounds like we have a consensus to continue with this work.”
District 4 Supervisor Michael Green noted whatever food distribution the county assists with, is not just based on calories or food groups but on cultural awareness. “We get foods that not only speak to hunger but speak to them in their own culture,” he said. Following Psyka’s commitment, Green added, “I will do that too- $5,000 to Gleaners and $5,000 to Redwood,” he said. “And with Gleaners I want to add $5,000 because I know they’re transitioning to a new facility that may need some level of support to get into the bigger facility.”
District 1 Supervisor Moke Simon said Middletown Rancheria gladly helps with fund raising events. “The cultural aspect about food is important to the tribal community,” he said. “”Hitch, acorns, rabbit ear sunflowers (salad), Manzanita Berries- that food sovereignty is something we want to pass to the next generation. And people with food insecurity also need housing. So, it’s important to let people know how that hand up can make their lives so much better.” District 3 Supervisor Ed Crandell noted his discretionary fund is nearly all committed. Yet he offered even if he could not offer $5,000 each, he could probably offer half of that.
Allison Goodwin, Redwood director of programs explained that they recognize that because of increased poverty over the last few years, why can’t they increase the number of those who can acquire more food, making sure it goes to those who need it. “So, we’re looking for opportunities to work together to get food and funding into Lake County.”
Beverly Westphal, president of Clear Lake Gleaners noted the nonprofit has been in existence since August 1951. They serve 1,246 individuals per month. Gleaners has 145 members plus an additional 65 volunteers on days of food distribution, which is the first Wednesday of the month and the third Thursday of the month all around the lake. That includes their main site in Finley as well as Clearlake, Middletown, Cobb, Nice and Lucerne. We feed 700 at Finley,” she said. “And at some of the other sites, 165, 144, but all sites have dramatically boosted the numbers they’re feeding. And we’re in the process of obtaining another site in Clearlake that’ll give us another 280 added families.”
David Goodman, Hunger relief worker and CEO of Redwood Empire Food Bank said he knew the organization was not able to draw down the resources they can at state level to Lake County. “But perhaps the board knows people at the state and federal level who can connect Redwood with some of those resources,” he said. “We’re more than happy to do the work. But we need to fuel our trucks, buy the food and pay our staff. But with your help (BOS) we can happily do whatever you want us to do.”
