Supervisors OK $750K to support San Diego Food Bank, Market Co-Op

Food distribution at the Jacobs Cushman San Diego Food Bank Screenshot courtesy of San Diego Food Bank video Food access programs in the region were bolstered Wednesday after the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved two grants totaling Supervisors on Tuesday approved for the San Diego Food Bank and to the California Center for Cooperative Enhancement to promotion the SunCoast Field Co-Op now being built in the city of Imperial Beach These investments will directly benefit residents facing food insecurity while supporting the local food financial market according to a message from Joel Anderson and Monica Montgomery Steppe who made the proposal Montgomery Steppe announced access to nutritious food is a basic human right not a privilege When families are forced to choose between groceries rent and medication our system is broken she added This action reflects our commitment to reversing the long-standing inequities in our food system and to investing in community-led solutions that empower residents to thrive Anderson thanked Montgomery Steppe for her assistance and disclosed strong population partnerships are needed to meet greater necessities Our central bipartisan work will strengthen our local safety net and make a real difference for families in need Anderson added Although the Board of Supervisors is considered a nonpartisan voting body Anderson is a Republican while Montgomery Steppe is a Democrat According to both supervisors federal food assistance to the San Diego Food Bank the largest hunger-relief organization in the county is down because of cuts from the U S Department of Agriculture s Emergency Food Assistance Operation The amount will help the Food Bank replace over million pounds of lost food items such as milk and eggs for the residents it serves every month according to the supervisors Beneficiaries of these services include students seniors veterans and working families they added The grant for SunCoast Sector Co-Op will increase food access and economic progress in a region where up to of residents face food insecurity according to Anderson and Montgomery Steppe SunCoast has over member-owners To be located in the Silver Strand Plaza the industry is set to open this summer the Coronado News announced Anderson and Montgomery Steppe revealed the grants are in line with the Food Justice Society Action Plan which supervisors approved last December City News Amenity contributed to this article