On the fourth Saturday of the month, by 9:30 a.m., the line stretches beyond the parking lot at St. Athanasius Church, continuing along Rengstorff Avenue. People arrive with carts, bicycles, and baby strollers, ready to collect free groceries for their families. This scene has become routine since the pandemic began, with food distributions happening on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
About 45 volunteers from local organizations, including Catholic Charities and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, help those in need. They come from nearby apartments or take advantage of the Mountain View shuttle service to get to the distribution site.
Unfortunately, the need for assistance is growing. Shobana Gubbi, chief philanthropy officer of Second Harvest, warns that November could bring even more challenges. As federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faces potential cuts, it could leave over 168,000 residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties without crucial support.
“We expect these lines to grow,” Gubbi stated during the event, as light rain fell.
On this day, U.S. Representative Sam Liccardo helped out, wearing an orange vest and blue gloves. He emphasized the urgent need to resolve budget issues affecting SNAP, which has seen significant cuts over the past few years. A report by the Congressional Budget Office noted a $186 billion reduction in SNAP funding over the next decade, largely to offset tax cuts. Liccardo pointed out that despite having emergency funds, the government remains stagnant amid a budget impasse.
Local efforts, such as the food distribution, rely on the kindness of volunteers. Jill Rakestraw, a Mountain View resident, shared how she started volunteering after seeing the need in her community. “It’s a great way to give back and we’ve become a little family,” she said, reflecting on the connections formed among volunteers.
Rafael Morales, the program coordinator, was busy ensuring everything ran smoothly. He trained new volunteers right before the distribution, explaining the system with a smile. Each person receiving food had a color-coded card indicating how many families they were picking up for, allowing the volunteers to manage the assistance effectively.
Second Harvest provides food to around 900 sites, feeding approximately 500,000 people monthly in Silicon Valley. One in six residents in these counties seeks food assistance. Gubbi remains hopeful for the future, stating, “We scaled up for the pandemic. We can do this.”
This situation highlights a crucial need for community support and resilience. Local initiatives play a vital role in addressing food insecurity and are often driven by the passion of volunteers who understand the impact of their work.
For more information on food assistance or to apply for CalFresh, visit [Second Harvest](https://www.shfb.org). You can also get involved as a volunteer or donate to support these essential services.
Source link
mountainview – city government,mountainview – top post – primary,mountainview – top post – secondary,paloalto – community,paloalto – top post – secondary,Print Ready
