Blog - Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Get the Facts About Public Charge

August 16, 2019 By Cassidie Bates Leave a Comment

WHAT is Public Charge and why is it a hot topic right now? Public Charge has been an aspect of US Immigration Law for over 100 years and is part of what allows immigration officials to determine who is granted visas, green cards, and citizenship. An announced change to Public Charge (Department of Homeland Security: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds) was published by the Trump Administration on Wednesday, August 14^th. The proposed changes would allow federal officials to deny green cards to legal immigrants who are LIKELY IN THE FUTURE to receive certain public benefits.

WHEN does Public Charge come up? The Public Charge Assessment happens when a person: applies to enter the US, applies to adjust status to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (obtaining a green card), or a green card holder leaves the US for more than 180 consecutive days (6 months) and reenters. Most immigrants are not eligible for public benefits for up to 5 years; the new Public Charge rule would determine if individuals would likely use Public Benefits when in the US, based on certain criteria.

WHICH Public Benefits are examined? Utilizing the following public benefits could make a recipient subject to the Public Charge Test: CalFresh (SNAP)/Food Stamps, CalWorks (TANF/Cash Aid), Medicaid*, and Housing Assistance (Public Housing, Section 8, Rental Assistance). Those who would be impacted by this rule change are individuals, deemed by the Public Charge Test, to be more likely than not to receive public benefits for a cumulative 12 months or longer during a 36-month period. Two separate benefits (such as SNAP and housing assistance) used during the same month, count as 2 months out of the 12 months.

WHO is NOT affected? Public Charge does NOT affect everyone. The following individuals are not subject to the Public Charge Test: Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) who are applying for citizenship, Active-Duty Service members and their spouses and kids, recipients of Children’s Health Insurance Program, users of Medicaid who are either pregnant or children*, Medicare Part D (prescription drug subsidy program) recipients, WIC recipients, Pell Grant recipients, Refugees, Asylees, individuals with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, VAWA self-petitioners, U or T visa applicants/holders, and certain parolees.

WHAT is the Public Charge Test criteria? The test would take into account: age, health, family status, financial resources, education, and skills. Immigration officials would grant a positive and a negative score for an individual in each section when making their determination of the Public Charge Test results.

WHEN and WHERE does this happen? This is a federal proposal and therefore would impact Californians who are enrolled in the public benefits listed above and are seeking to change their immigration status on or after October 15th, 2019. This proposal was posted by the Trump Administration on Wednesday, August 14th and will be officially published on October 15th, unless litigation prevents publication. Any public benefit that one applies for or uses ON or AFTER October 15th, 2019 could subject one to the Public Charge Test. Any benefit usage or application to change immigration status submitted prior to October 15th, 2019 will NOT be subjected to the Public Charge Test.

WHAT is changing from the current Public Charge rule?: This new proposal is forward-looking, meaning the assessment will judge if an individual is more likely than not to rely on public assistance in the future. Additionally, more types of public benefits would be taken into consideration by immigration officials.

Next steps for those impacted?: Remember the rule is not yet finalized and litigation may prevent it from becoming law prior to October 15th, 2019. Each person and their set of circumstances is unique and advice given to one individual doesn’t apply to all; seek advice from professionals and immigration attorneys. Continue using the benefits you and your family need to remain healthy, strong and employable. Engage in community education to know your rights and become knowledgeable about what you can do. REMEMBER: THIS PUBLIC CHARGE TEST WOULD NOT LOOK AT BENEFITS USED BEFORE OCTOBER 15TH, 2019. This will affect those who apply to change their immigration status (in one of the above categories) on or after October 15th, 2019 and are deemed likely to use public benefits in the future when they’d be eligible.

Questions? Contact Cassidie Bates at [email protected] or 925-334-2766.

Volunteer spotlight on Gary Morin

August 8, 2019 By Libbie Hodas Leave a Comment

If you volunteer at our Concord warehouse on a weeknight, you are likely to cross paths with Gary Morin. The first thing you might notice about him is that he is very tall and friendly, and, come rain or come shine, he always has a smile on his face as he helps the Food Bank sort food for distribution to people in need. We took a moment to get to know Gary and ask him why he has made a commitment to the Food Bank. We hope you enjoy this month’s Volunteer Spotlight.

Name: Gary Morin

Occupation: Senior Auditor with the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General – Audit

What do you do there? We audit any USDA program that gets funding: food stamps, forest service, agricultural products, research animals, etc. I’ve been an auditor for 40 years, since I was out of college. I was going to be a veterinarian, but I found out I was allergic to almost all animals. I was good with numbers so this was a good fit.

How long have you lived in the Bay Area? Fifty-five years! I am a native-born San Franciscan. I have only spent five years away, when I lived in the Philippines with my parents as civilians at Subic Bay naval base. My dad worked in human resources at the base hiring locals to work on the base during the Vietnam War. I’ve lived in Daly City, San Carlos, Novato, and now in Concord.

How long have you been volunteering at the Food Bank? Since October 2015.

What do you do at the Food Bank? I sort food at the Concord warehouse and also help out with food drive events.

What made you want to volunteer at the Food Bank? Forty years ago (1980) I worked with the California Grey Bears in Santa Cruz. They were providing food for seniors. Volunteers [who were also seniors] would go out to Salinas and Watsonville and glean the field. This was before farmers harvested “seconds” for food banks. The fields had already been picked for the farmers, but there were seconds left over that could be eaten. The farmers gave us permission to harvest this. Seniors would go out and pick this food for the Grey Bears. They would go out, pick and fill a truckload full of totes to bring back for distribution. I was a college student with a strong back so I didn’t pick the food I got the honor of lifting the heavy baskets to someone in the truck.

We’d see farmworkers in the fields all the time. One day a farmworker who was on break at the next field came over and asked, “Why are all these old people out here picking food?” I explained what the Grey Bears did and who would be getting this food. The farmworker let out a whistle and two minutes later the truck was full. The farmworkers came over and picked the second harvest for us and put it on the truck and we were done. That got me thinking about helping people in need of getting food. This experience stuck with me. When I moved back to Concord I wanted to start volunteering again, due to a life change. [Editor’s note: Grey Bears is still going strong. To learn more, check out their website at www.greybears.org .

Why do you continue to volunteer? It’s a good way for me to unwind from the crazy day of pushing a pencil and doing the auditing. You’re doing intense auditing all day and this is completely different. It’s also a way to get exercise, keeping moving, and get out of the house. I meet different people every time I come to volunteer, and it is fun to share the history of the Food Bank with them. It is fun to see their eyes widen when they realize how much food is distributed from this warehouse in a month!

Why is volunteering important to you? In this busy world, with demanding professional commitments and so many distractions, how do you fit in volunteering with your work schedule? For me it’s a way to give back to the community, to help out, and it gets me out of being married to work. It helps break that cycle. I know I have to go to the Food Bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That’s my routine. I come straight from work. If I go home—forget it. Now, I have added working with the Food Bank “boxing team” on my days off every other Friday, schedule permitting.

What would you tell someone who works full-time about volunteering? Why should they consider getting involved with the Food Bank? There are so many jobs and tasks that need to be done and you can find something to meet your schedule. There’s no excuse not to volunteer between the Concord and Fairfield warehouses.

Are there times of the year you like to volunteer the most? Letter Carriers Stamp Out the Hunger food drive in May, Scare Away Hunger in October, and the Safeway food drive in November.

Do you have any stories from your time here that you would like to share? What has moved you most? Scare Away Hunger is the best event I’ve seen. High school kids go out on Halloween eve. Instead of collecting candy, they collect food. Marathon provides trucks to pick up the food and a thank you lunch for the kids afterwards. These kids give up their Halloween to feed the hungry. They bring in at least two bobtail trucks full of food for the Food Bank. It’s really cool to see the kids do this.

What would you tell young people about the Food Bank, hunger, or volunteering? Remember not everybody has what you have in the way of food and getting a meal every day. Think about it. What if you could only get one meal a day? How would you feel? Which meal would you want? What would you do? How would you solve that problem? By volunteering for an hour you could help give somebody a meal. Helping others is a good thing.

Helping others is a good thing and we are thankful for Gary’s help at the Food Bank.

Feeling inspired by this interview and want to get involved? At the time of this writing we need volunteers to help us at our Fairfield Warehouse, which can accommodate groups of up to 20 volunteers per shift. To see our current needs visit volunteer.foodbankccs.org/calendar. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected].

——————————————-

Each month, 1 in 8 people living in Contra Costa and Solano counties receives emergency food from the Food Bank. We often repeat this statistic because it reflects the hidden nature of hunger. With so many in need, those we help are likely to be someone you regularly pass by on your way to work or in your neighborhood.

Fighting hunger in our community is an all-hands-on-deck process. That is why we are grateful for everyone who has chosen to volunteer at the Food Bank, so much so we occasionally shine a spotlight on who is helping us.

Helping local students from preschool to college

August 8, 2019 By Jenny Leave a Comment

Hunger is isolating for anyone, but especially to young people trying to figure out the world around them. For kids living with hunger, going back to school can mean going back to shame and embarrassment. Many students have to skip breakfast and/or don’t have enough food in their cupboards to pack a lunch, nor do they have the money to purchase a meal at school. The federal free-reduced lunch program provides a lifeline to these kids, but it’s not enough.

“You’re not yourself when you’re hungry,” explains a local high school senior and school pantry volunteer. “It’s tough to make decisions.”

The Food Bank has programs to specifically provide students from preschool through college with supplemental food to ensure everyone has a chance to thrive:

Food for Children

Once a month 580 children, ages four through six years old, receive a 30-pound box of nutritious high-protein food. The national program, WIC (the Federal Women, Infants, and Children program), refers qualifying families to the Food for Children program. The Food Bank created the program to fill the gap that can exist between children served under WIC and children served with lunch programs at schools.

Farm 2 Kids

Every week during the school year 10,000 children receive a three to five pound bag of produce to take home. To help children establish healthy eating habits, we partner with after school programs at elementary schools in low-income areas in eligible school districts.

School Pantry Program

The School Pantry Program provides nutritious, nonperishable food to students attending qualified low-income schools. Located on school grounds, the pantries offer middle school and high school students monthly access to groceries on an as-needed basis. The students are able to take the food home with them. The goal is to ensure that these students get the fuel they need to succeed. The program currently serves 1,490 students and their families a month.

College Pantry Program

We provide food and support to food pantries at six local community college and one 4-year university campuses. Most are open 5-days a week and enrolled students with a school ID can pick up free groceries at these little mini-markets. Students are able to pick out what food they want according to their personal dietary restrictions or food preferences.

We thank you for your continued support of the Food Bank. Together we are fueling growing bodies and minds this back to school season.

Healthy summer meals for kids sees growth locally

July 25, 2019 By Jenny

Student enjoying fruit at summer lunch site. Photo by Angelina Bell Photography.

In a follow up to our blog post dated July 11th, 2019, we had the opportunity to learn more about a local school district serving free meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). We had an opportunity to talk with Kristin Nisen from Brentwood Unified School District. We wanted to learn a little more…

How many kids on average attend a Summer Lunch Program?

It varies, however, after relocating one of our sites to a large community park, the participation increased tremendously from an average of 17 kids a day to 170 kids a day! Our highest number of kids served in one day was 280! We also added activities for the kids to participate in each day. The parents are all so thankful for having a central area to get together with others and meet new families. Many bring their kids to play at the kid’s park, get lunch and then go to the nearby waterpark.

How do you feel this program makes a difference? During the school year in Brentwood, on an average day, we feed 1800 ‘free’ students that rely on the meals we are providing them and hopefully help relieve some worry and hardship on their parents. During the 7 weeks of summer break, these students either wouldn’t get the meals and/or it would create more hardship for their families to feed all their children. We are providing a hot meal with fresh fruits and vegetables and milk, as well as free activities for the kids to participate in. We are sending a positive message regarding the importance of nutrition and exercise.

How do kids find out about the free lunches? This year we reached out by digital flyers via schools, flyers at all school cafes and offices, sent information to principals to share, on district webpage, on social media groups, Food Bank website, No Kids Hungry, reached out to city council members, and had two articles in the Brentwood Press. Next year, I would like to reach out to more churches, apartment complexes, and nearby grocery stores.

What kind of feedback have you received? Parents are very grateful. I remember one mom came to me letting me know how thankful she was for having the program. She has six kids and money is always tight. I’m not sure if these kids eat with us during the year on the meal benefit program or receive any other assistance, but the overall gratitude was amazing.

Public Statement: Food for All

July 23, 2019 By Larry

CONCORD, JULY 23, 2019 — The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano and our partner agencies are a community-based network that provides food to people in need, no matter what their legal status. Working with our partner agencies, government organizations and the philanthropic community, we make food available to people through the community agencies we serve and the direct food distributions we operate.

Unfortunately, the current political climate has caused confusion and fear for the people we serve, especially in immigrant communities. I ask your help in making the community aware that as a private non-profit organization, the Food Bank is not obligated to report the legal status of anyone we serve and will not share personal information with immigration authorities. We track the number of people we serve so we can inform the community about hunger, but we will never share the names of the people who receive food from our organization.

The Food Bank also conducts outreach to enroll more people in the CalFresh program, our nation’s most effective response to hunger. When the Food Bank’s CalFresh outreach staff provides application assistance, we send that information to the appropriate county department.

We continue to serve 178,000 people each month who need food assistance. We are concerned that fears of imminent large scale actions are preventing people from getting the help they need. It is important people understand we respect their privacy as we help them get the food assistance their family needs. The Food Bank is part of a community that cares for each other. Please help us fight hunger in service of our neighbors in need.

Free summer meals and produce help fight child hunger this summer

July 11, 2019 By Jenny

We know behind every hungry child, there is a hungry family. Through our partnership with local qualifying school districts, kids receiving free lunches or breakfasts through the national Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) also get to take a bag of fresh produce to share with their family.

The SFSP is a nationwide program which gives critical food support to children 4-5 days a week during summer break. It helps fill the nutrition gap experienced by students who receive free or reduced-priced breakfasts and/or lunches during the school year, but the program is open to any child under the age of 18 needing a meal.

The harsh reality is that sometimes these kids can only count on these school meals for a steady source of fuel for their growing bodies. Without this program, there are kids who would be forced to skip daily meals in the summer.

Summer meals are served and produce is given out at schools and other central locations such as libraries and community centers. One mom who brought her daughter to get lunch told us the produce they receive from the Food Bank really helps when “you have to choose between buying your kid shoes and buying food.”

During the school year, the Food Bank’s Farm 2 Kids program allows students to take home fresh fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, onions, apples and oranges. However, the summer produce we give away in conjunction with SFSP consists of some of nature’s tastiest treasures including peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and tomatoes! Often this premium-priced produce is out of low-income family budgets and is considered to be a real treat.

Learn more about local SFSP locations by visiting foodbankccs.org/summerlunch

Youth travels over 1,800 miles to fight Bay Area hunger

July 11, 2019 By Libbie Hodas

Village Presbyterian Church, based out of Prairie Village, Kansas, reached out to our Volunteer Services during the spring. They were planning a summer trip for 60 middle and high school students in their youth programs. Could we use the help? Of course, we said, “Yes!”

Traveling over 1,800 miles to Concord, California, students and chaperones from Village Presbyterian Church visited us last month. Divided into groups of fifteen, volunteers helped to sort fresh produce and goods at the Food Bank. We also talked about hunger in the Bay Area and throughout the country.

When we asked them about their plans for the week, we were surprised to learn we were not the only stop on their schedule.

While they are here, the group is volunteering at several nonprofits throughout the Bay Area including Project Open Hand, St. Anthony Foundation, GLIDE Memorial Church, St. Vincent de Paul, CityTeam Oakland, and Farm2Market: Alameda Point Collaborative.

During their busy schedule, we had a chance to speak with Jenna Soltys, Associate Director of Youth Ministries. With so many nonprofits in our area, Jenna shared with us that this was a great place to learn about serving others.

Tell us about your group. What brings you to the San Francisco Bay Area?
We are a mission-focused youth group. Throughout the year we go on trips to serve communities at local, domestic, and international locations. We don’t want our kids to grow up in a bubble. A trip like this teaches them about teamwork, being flexible, and what is happening in other parts of the world.

You’re in California on a fun trip, why did you decide to come volunteer at the Food Bank?
The goals of our Youth Department and Church are service-centered, inclusive, and about serving people and getting out into the world.

Jenna explained how volunteering impacted her early in life. As a youth, she went on community-based service-learning trips to volunteer her time. She said that volunteering changed her perspective on the world and created a commitment to serve others. It is also the reason why she is now the Associate Director of Youth Ministries leading trips for youth. She hoped that volunteering in places like the Bay Area would have a similar impact on her students.

What would you like to tell other youth group leaders about volunteering?
You can have a group bonding experience on a trip like this. If you aren’t a big organization, you can work with a third-party provider such as City Service Mission to help coordinate booking, housing, and volunteer opportunities for an entire trip.

The Food Bank wishes to thank Jenna and the youth from Village Presbyterian Church for volunteering at the Food Bank and learning about hunger in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Do you have a group that would like to volunteer? At the time of writing this, we need groups of up to 20 volunteers to help us sort food at our Fairfield Warehouse. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.

New advocates graduate from Speaker Series 2019

June 10, 2019 By Lisa

We won’t be able to truly end hunger without coming together and changing policy. For this reason, one of the core pillars of our policy work is the Speaker Series.

The Speaker Series is designed to help people who experience hunger gain the tools and knowledge they need to become effective anti-hunger advocates.

On the evening of June 5th, we had 12 community advocates graduate from our 2019 Speaker Series. Our graduates attended eight weeks of workshops on public speaking and civic engagement, learning how to use personal stories to change public policy.

In order to put into practice what was learned, participants went to Sacramento for Hunger Action Day. Advocates shared their own stories of hunger with their elected officials and asked them to pass specific legislation to address this pressing issue. (You can view photos of Hunger Action Day on our Facebook page.)

We all have a story to share. The Speaker Series helps participants shape personal experiences into powerful narratives that inspire people to take action to end hunger.

New food drive administrator comes full circle

May 7, 2019 By Jenny

Donations slow down considerably this time of year, which is why the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, the nation’s largest one-day food drive, is vital for the Food Bank and for the people it serves.

The concept behind the annual event is actually quite simple. On the Saturday before every Mother’s Day, community members are encouraged to place a bag of nonperishable groceries by their mailbox. From there, countless postal workers, food bankers, and volunteers transport and sort the food to give out to people in need.

Coordinating this massive effort behind the scenes is Neil Zarchin, the Food Bank’s new Food Drive Administrator. With over 6 years of experience in food banking, 33 years of experience as a letter carrier, and a defining memory from his childhood fueling his passion to fight hunger–there is no one more qualified to hit the ground running.

Although Neil is new to this role as Food Drive Administrator, he might be a familiar face to some. Before taking on his new position, he was the Food Bank’s Grant Writer. It was his extensive roots with the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive (also known as Stamp Out Hunger) that gave him the desire to initially seek employment at the Food Bank after he retired from the Post Office in 2012. “The more I got to know about the nature of hunger in America, and the work of the Food Bank, the more inspired I became. I knew I wanted to work at the Food Bank when I grew up,” he says with a smile.

Neil’s roots to the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive go back almost three decades before it came nationwide. He recalls when just a few of the local post offices within the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union started participating in these food drives, including Martinez and Fairfield. Neil ended up serving as the NALC Branch Coordinator for the event for an astounding 17 years!

It’s not just his past work experience that makes Neil an asset to the Food Bank. Beyond his ideal resume is a deep empathy for others that is essential in pulling off a food drive of this magnitude.

Neil recalls, “When I was 10 years old, someone broke into our garage and cleaned out our extra freezer; nothing else was taken. I asked my parents if they were going to call the police and they said ‘no because they could have taken everything and they only took food and they can have it.’ That made a huge impression on me and I’ve held onto that.”

Having done the work himself, Neil can vouch to the tremendous effort the letter carriers put into this event. At the same time, he can offer some perspective on behalf of those who will end up receiving the food. “Working the food drive as a letter carrier is an incredibly difficult day, but it’s one day a year. Everyone is more than willing to pitch in and make it happen. We all realize it’s easier to work one very difficult day than it is to be struggling week after week, juggling bills and trying to feed your family nutritious food.”

When you are at the store this week, please pick up some extra nonperishable groceries and leave them in a bag by your mailbox before delivery on Saturday, May 11. Click here for our list of most needed food. Every can, bag and box of food makes a difference!

Lend your voice on Hunger Action Day, May 22

May 6, 2019 By Guest

Representatives from the Food Bank will bus up to the State Capitol on Hunger Action Day, May 22, to meet up with other hunger-fighting advocates from throughout California. They will share their stories with elected officials and call for legislative change.

Even if you can’t be with us in Sacramento, we urge you to get on our “virtual bus” on May 22nd and let your elected officials know that fighting hunger needs to be a priority.

You can still fight hunger by:

Following #HungerAction2019 and @FoodBankCCS on Facebook and Twitter
Sharing on your favorite social media: Do you believe food is a human right? Hunger has no place in the Golden State! #HungerAction2019 #EndHungerTogether
Donating to help us continue our work to make lasting change for hungry people in your community: Due to a donor match, your gift can be doubled throughout the month of May if you use this specific link: foodbankccs.org/matchinggift.

Stay Connected

Join our E-News list