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Sacramento Hunger Commission: April 2003 Minutes

  1. The meeting was called to order by Rebecca Fuller, Chair.
  2. Minutes approved with a correction: Lisa Tadlock provided an alternate on 4/15/03. (Caruso/Mills)
  3. Reports and announcements
    • Rebecca Fuller, Chair, announced that she will be stepping down as Chair. She will be replaced by Kevin Bond, current co-Vice Chair. Ms. Fuller will remain on the Commission.
    • Hunger Hits Home -Commissioners interested in serving on an advisory committee for the report, please contact Ms. Roark.
    • Senior Gleaners Grand Opening-Ernie Brown, Commissioner, announced a grand opening event for Senior Gleaners' new facility at 1951 Bell Ave. There will be free refreshments, door prizes, dancing and a possible food drive for Second Harvest. The actually opening of the new building will take place on June 2.
    • New developments at Elk Grove Community Food Bank Services-Steve Caruso, Commissioner, announced that the food bank will be working with Elk Grove Senior Center to deliver food monthly to 900 seniors at the center. The food bank will also be providing free bags of food at parent training evenings for the Elk Grove Unified School District. Starting May 10, the food bank will also be open on Saturdays.
    • Media Coverage - Judie Wilson, Commissioner, announced that the Placer Herald ran articles on the Commission's Pots and Pans Drive and Junior Garden Gleaners, 2002 Hope Award Winners. Peggy Roark reported that Pots and Pans can be opened up to Head Start parents if enough donations are received. Ms. Wilson and Mr. Caruso discussed the Commission contacting Share Our Strength as a possible sponsor. Ms. Wilson also gave thanks to all those who wished her well during a recent illness.
    • Urban Farm and Education -Alicia Oldfield, Commissioner, announced that a Sacramento organic farm (Soil Born) is sponsoring a meeting on April 25 at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op to explore the possibility of creating an urban farm and education center.
    • Other Announcements - Peggy Roark announced that Hands On Sacramento's annual volunteer event on May 31 will have a volunteer activity at Jedediah Smith Elementary's school garden. Emily Piltch reported that the Commission will facilitate Hunger 101 for NCCC members this Friday from 9-10:30am at the Sacramento Food Bank. Ms Wilson announced that the Bayside church in Placer County is becoming active in community issues in Granite Bay.
  4. Policy Update
    • State Legislative Update-Sharon Eghigian, Commissioner, reported on upcoming legislation and the CHAC (CA Hunger Action Coalition) Hunger Action Day on Monday, May 12th. SB 43, Senator Cedillo's Emergency Food Assistance Program Voluntary Contribution Bill, was passed in the Senate on April 10 and will be heard in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Commission probably in May. Contributions received as a result of this bill are used by food banks to purchase emergency food to supplement food donations. Darrell Steinberg's bill, AB 231, has moved out of its first committee and is being heard in Assembly Appropriations and also going through the Budget process. Ms. Eghigian also reported that State funding for the Brown Bag program is in danger of being cut. The program provides $900,000/year to food banks and community agencies to provide food to low-income seniors. Food bank volunteers and recipients testified in support of the program on March 5 and 6.
    • Local Level I-The SETA public hearing on unmet community needs and funding priorities will be May 14. Ms. Roark presented the staff recommendations for priorities for testifying at the hearing: community gardens and Senior Nutrition Services, especially home delivered meals. After a brief discussion, the Commission voted to accept the recommendations. (Magana-Alexander/Wilson)
    • Local Level II-The Commission voted to meet on April 22 at Mather Campus to discuss proposed food security-related proposed county budget cuts, implications for programs and services, and priorities for Commission testimony at budget hearings.
  5. Panel on Sacramento Community and School Gardens -Danielle Blacet, Government Affairs Analyst with Western Growers, gave a presentation on the Western Growers school garden program. WG is raising money to support and start gardens in K-12 public and charter schools. Grants are awarded to schools for $1000 to $1500. Ms. Blacet provided an overview of school gardens and the benefits of gardening and nutrition education while showing a video on the recent Noralto School garden kick-off in North Sacramento. Soil, compost and concrete blocks were all donated for this garden. Grants are still available, interested schools or organizations working with schoolchildren should contact Western Growers. Information and applications are available on their website at www.wga.com
  6. Bill Maynard, Commissioner and founder of the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition (SACGC) gave an update on community gardens in Sacramento: new gardens, the need for gardens, and the status of existing gardens including the Weed and Seed garden project. Mr. Maynard reported that recent interest in community gardening has been substantial, particularly among immigrant groups such as the Hmong and Bosnian communities. Community gardens can provide a solution to urban blight and city-owned vacant lots in low-income neighborhoods while making it possible for gardeners currently gardening in unsafe conditions (such as drainage ditches) to plant. Mr. Maynard showed a video of PSAs for ACGA (American Community Gardening Association). Further information on community gardens is available at www.saccommunitygardens.org
    • The Commission voted to assume a more formal relationship at least temporarily with the SACGC for purposes of seeking funding, subject to approval by the CSPC board. (Yniguez/Wilson) Juan Yniguez offered his support for SACGC and agreed to bring the matter to the CSPC board for approval.
  7. The meeting was adjourned by Rebecca Fuller, Chair, at 1:06pm.


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