San Diego Food Bank and Fallbrook Food Pantry to start new monthly food distribution

SAN DIEGO – In order to meet the rising demand for food assistance from individuals and families in Fallbrook, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has provided funding to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank to establish a new monthly food distribution in Fallbrook in partnership with the Fallbrook Food Pantry.

The first food distribution will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. in the parking lot behind the Fallbrook Arts Center 103 S. Main Street. Subsequent distributions will be held at the same location on the last Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.

The Food Bank will deliver an estimated 14,000 pounds of fresh produce to Fallbrook every month for distribution by Fallbrook Food Pantry volunteers to families and individuals in need.

Distributions are open to everyone. No documentation is required to receive food assistance, and there are no income or asset restrictions for this distribution program.

In addition, the Food Bank will host a CalFresh (Food Stamp) sign-up booth on site during the distribution with Food Bank staff pre-screening and helping attendees complete the CalFresh application. And utility provider San Diego Gas & Electric will help attendees sign up for its CARE Program which provides a 20 percent discount on electric and natural gas bills for low-income households.

The new Fallbrook food distribution was funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) totaling $14,400 from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Bill Horn said, "The Fallbrook Food Pantry has always been committed to serving those who have fallen on hard times in the Fallbrook area. Their latest effort to distribute food monthly and sign people up for food stamps is both a prime example of that commitment and a big help for those who can no longer afford to put food on their tables."

Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank CEO J. Scofield Hage said, "We are very grateful to the Board of Supervisors for funding this distribution and we are excited to launch this new food distribution which will help meet the increased need for assistance from individuals and families in Fallbrook. We are delighted to partner with the Fallbrook Food Pantry which is an excellent organization and a model food pantry in our county."

The Fallbrook Food Pantry has distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food from other Food

Bank programs since 2004 and it serves, on average, over 1,600 households per month.

Fallbrook Food Pantry board president Arnie Willcuts said, "We have seen big increases in demand for help in the last couple of years since the economic downturn, with major increases from seniors and young families who have lost their jobs. This new distribution will enable us to increase the amount of nutritious food we can provide to people in need in the Fallbrook area."