South Lake Tahoe Hunger Issues Addressed in Meeting and Food Distribution

The Food Bank of El Dorado County was in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday to accomplish two things: Distribute emergency food supplies to locals in need, and to hold a meeting with South Lake Tahoe agencies who assist people living with hunger.

In 2013, the El Dorado County Food Bank distributed 1.8 million pounds of food to county residents with a value of $3,000,000. The agency is not county funded and gets their food from donations, private donors, growers, businesses and the USDA.

In order to best address how many people in South Lake Tahoe need supplemental food supplies a survey is being distributed to the local population. The EDCFB will gather the data and look at it to be able to access community need and get a plan together to help hungry people. They will look at this data to see if there is a need for a food bank office and warehouse in town (their new warehouse is in Cameron Park).

"We are targeting a population that, for some reason or other, doesn't attend the free meals in town, doesn't use CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps)," said Carey Fong, El Dorado County Food Bank Communications & Development Director. "There is a hidden group that we need to help."

Local agencies represented at the meeting were Bread & Broth, the Senior Center, Kelly Ridge and the Senior Plaza, Family Resource Center, Page & Sage, Christmas Cheer and county departments. A Raley's rep was there as was County Supervisor candidate Sue Novasel and Mike Owen, candidate for County Auditor-Controller.

"We need to figure out how to work collaboratively with both sides of the granite curtain," Owen said in reference to the mountains dividing the West and East Slops of the county.

"Those that qualify for CalFresh don't get enough food," said Fong. "Those that don't qualify get even less." She said things have changed and their giveaway isn't emergency food anymore, it's supplemental.

The food bank brought up truck load of food to be passed out as emergency supplemental food supplies for families and individuals. Volunteers from the community helped food bank employees unload the truck, which was parked in the American Legion's parking lot, and pass it out to the public.