By Emilie St. John
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — The county Department of Public Social Services outreach and program teams has launched activities for CalFresh Awareness Month.
“Just putting three meals a day on the table is a daily struggle for too many families in Los Angeles County,” said department Director Jackie Contreras, who shared her personal story of how food subsidy programs helped her family. “I am so grateful my mother had the courage to reach out for help when we needed it.”
An event was held May 8 at Mar Vista Park to raise awareness about the program with the goal of eliminating the stigmas associated with receiving public assistance and removing the barriers to applying for CalFresh.
The event provided more than 400 residents with information and resources regarding the CalFresh program. Through an aggressive social media, community engagement and media outreach plan, the county hopes to reach more than a million residents during the month, according to a department statement.
Recent data from an L.A. County health survey conducted by the county Department of Public Health indicated that many families continue to struggle with putting food on the table. The survey also provided a deeper look into how food insecurity impacts communities of color.
In 2023, 35.8% of Latino adults reported living in nutritionally insecure households. Food insecurity, defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, is a serious public health issue, negatively impacting the physical and emotional development of children, putting them, as well as adults, at greater risk for obesity, diabetes and other illnesses, the department statement said.
CalFresh is California’s name for the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by counties throughout the state. The program has proven to be an effective way to ensure the health and well-being of thousands of low-income individuals and families.
The community kickoff event helped launch a series of outreach strategies to inform residents on how to stretch their food budgets and purchase healthier foods. This year’s the month’s theme is “Eat Better, Live Better.”
The CalFresh Awareness Month campaign is also an opportunity to highlight the strong collaboration between local government agencies and community-based organizations in educating the public about the many benefits of the CalFresh Program.
CalFresh Awareness Month started in May of 2011 and is the official month dedicated to increasing public awareness of CalFresh.
To sign up for the CalFresh program, visit https://benefitscal.com/.
Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.
