CAP of San Bernardino Helps Families in Need with Holiday Meals

The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Food Bank announced Friday that it will be able to provide 14,000 turkeys to feed low-income residents in San Bernardino County this holiday season. 

The turkeys were provided through the food bank’s Emergency Food Assistance Program and will be distributed through their network of USDA partner agencies.

“The holiday season is going to be a little bit brighter this year in San Bernardino County,” said Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County CEO Patricia L. Nickols-Butler stated. “Thanks to the CAPSBC Food Bank and a grant by the Emergency Food Assistance Program, this is one of the single largest holiday turkey distributions in the agency’s history.”

Below is part of the announcement made by the agency:

There are over 400,000 people living in poverty in San Bernardino County – this is 1 in every 5 people.  The poverty rate among children under 18 years old is 28.3%.  The CAPSBC Food Bank serves 30,000 families every month and is the largest provider of emergency food assistance in San Bernardino County.

The CAPSBC Food Bank works hard to address hunger for those in need in our county and these turkeys will help in fulfilling the needs for thousands of families, children, seniors, veterans, the homeless, the unemployed and underemployed, and countless others who are struggling to hang on in these difficult times.  CAPSBC is grateful to be able to provide these turkeys to help address the overwhelming problem of hunger and malnutrition in San Bernardino County.

The CAPSBC Food Bank is one of many programs designed to address the needs of San Bernardino County’s low income residents and was established 1984.  CAPSBC delivers services to 78 San Bernardino County cities and communities throughout our county, the largest in the continental Unites States at 20,160 square miles of diverse geography of deserts, mountains, valleys and flatland.  In 2012, the CAPSBC Food Bank distributed 5,250,762 lbs. of food to low income clients countywide. In addition to the 112 USDA distribution sites, the CAPSBC Food Bank also supports 30 Soup Kitchens and 45 Salvage Food Sites with food donations.

The CAPSBC Food Bank network is also supported by over 2,000 dedicated volunteers who provide tremendous support and help our communities.  A complete list of the all of the food sites served by the CAPSBC Food Bank is available on our website.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or EFAP, provides United States Department of Agriculture commodities to a network of food banks for distribution to eligible individuals and households within their service area.  In order to be eligible for USDA commodities, a recipient or household must reside in the geographical area being served and meet established income guidelines.  Under no circumstances shall a recipient be required to make any type of payment in money, materials, or services of any kind in connection with the receipt of USDA commodities. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is responsible for overseeing EFAP and ensures that USDA commodities are provided and distributed to eligible individuals and households in all 58 California counties.

The turkeys vary in weight but average about 15 lbs. each.  Low income residents of San Bernardino County can receive a free turkey, along with the regular USDA commodities, by visiting a USDA distribution site that is within his or her zip code and certify that they are low income.

If you would like to help support the CAPSBC Food Bank this holiday season, you can make a donation via the website www.capsbc.org or call 909-723-1560 for more information.