• Over half – 55.1 percent – of food-insecure famlies live in households with limited.
• Incomes but above the poverty line.
• Nearly half – 48.6 percent – live in families headed by a married couple.
• Nearly one in six – 16.3 percent – live outside major metropolitan areas.

Child hunger is unacceptable. We have enough food. We need to ensure that all kids have access to the family and program resources that provide them adequate nutritious food.

See http://annualreport.feedingamerica.org

“For those of us who are unemployed, when money is really tight. Unemployment doesn’t cut it, and food is one of the last things that we buy for ourselves,” Maria Fernandez, an unemployed senior, said.

Fernandez has been out of work since February. She says her mortgage and bills have quickly drained her savings. Today’s giveaway came at a good time for her and others in the community. “It’s bad enough for me as a senior, but with a family. If you’ve got growing kids this is a lifesaver,” Fernandez said.

Tuesday’s tailgate giveaway is the second one this summer, organized by the Community Action Agency and Foodlink out of Sacramento. The Community Action Agency gives out about two million pounds of food each year, through weekly distributions and events like the tailgate giveaway. “We’re trying to give them enough food for a few members of a household that could last for a week. You know it all depends on menu, preparation that type of thing. But that is what our goal is,” Community Action Agency Executive Director Tom Tenorio said.

On top of the food giveaway, volunteers were talking with people about programs that can help them save in other areas like their summer energy bill. Organizers hope to see everybody they helped at future events. They just hope they are in a better place when they return.

“In many respects the people are so appreciative; they end up giving to the next person. For instance, they will volunteer with future distributions, and that is when we are really encouraged when we see people aren’t just interested in taking. They’re interested in giving back as well,” Tenorio said. “I think it is a good thing they are doing this, and whoever donated all the food, we really appreciate it,” Gridley resident Mike Kale said.

Officials are organizing another tailgate food giveaway in the Hamilton City area for next month. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer your time call the Community Action Agency at 538-7559.

OROVILLE — Rising heat outside didn’t deter hundreds of people who formed a long line through a parking lot in order to get free produce, water and other items given away at a shopping center in Oroville.

A huge truck arrived at 7:30 Tuesday morning at the parking lot outside FoodMaxx on Oro Dam Boulevard for the food giveaway sponsored by North State Food Bank through the Community Action Agency of Butte County.

People reportedly arrived as early as 8 a.m. for the event, which officially went from 9 a.m. to noon. Community Action food and nutrition manager Julianna Roberts estimated 250 people had picked up food by 11 a.m., and expected to end with a total of 300.

The giveaway was coordinated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Don’t Dump Food Products and the California Farm to Family program.

People filled boxes and grocery carts with bottled water, bread, carrots, cabbage, corn, nectarines, plums, and canned applesauce and two varieties of canned tomatoes. They also got dry beans, yams, potatoes and crackers.

“People have really been taking the water,” noted Roberts, in the uncomfortable heat.

Community Action normally distributes surplus food at 27 sites, but distribution sites are running out of food even while the need is becoming greater. Roberts said that to meet the need for more food, the agency coordinated with Food Link and other programs to do “tailgate” distribution.

She said one reason need has increased is because schools are cutting back programs, so there aren’t as many summer school options that provide meals for children.

“That cuts off not just education, but a food opportunity,” Roberts said. “A lot of kids are out here today.”
One woman picked up food for her own family and for another family that didn’t have transportation. “I think it’s wonderful,” said Marilyn Jones, as she scooped dozens of packaged crackers from a giant box. “It’s great for the community, especially in the time of need we’re all in now.”

Roberts said the size of the crowd was expected. “We knew the need was there; we just needed to find a way to get them food,” she said. “This was a good way to do it.”

The sponsors also provided information about nutrition and various other programs provided by Community Action agency.

Another giveaway is scheduled for July 27 in Gridley, and tentatively at another location in the fall. Community Action also hopes to do a “round robin” to provide food for some of the more remote areas of the county, Roberts said.