The agricultural community of Mendota has been hit hard by the drought – but relief is coming thanks to packages from the Community Food Bank.
Now – a milestone – with the one millionth drought relief food package to be delivered to a family in Mendota, in Fresno County.
Mendota is like many communities and has been hit hard because of the drought.
One in four suffers from food insecurity, and this is a part of Governor Brown’s $687 million dollar drought relief legislation to help feed those people at risk.
The California Department of Social Services started the “Drought Food Assistance Program” back in 2014.
Natalie Caples is the Director of Programs with “Community Food Bank” in Fresno, who says the program is running through next September with the California state budget, and she hopes it will continue.
Caples says the response from the families receiving the packages has been very positive.
“Families are just so thankful that we’re able to provide them with the food, that we’re able to supplement them with the additional produce, produce is a luxury for a lot of our families especially in rural areas – where they don’t have access to a grocery store – or you know – other food markets has been really limited and so it has been overwhelmingly positive.” Natalie Caples, Community Food Bank.
Farmers in the Central Valley have been generously donating their fresh California grown produce and that has definitely made a difference in the quality of food going out.
Caples say the millionth meal box is marked but they won’t know who the family is until the box comes up at the moment of distribution…rather like the food lottery.
