Single-mother households and households with incomes below the poverty line are the most vulnerable to food insecurity according to the USDA. Health Net reports that “a community suffers from food insecurity when there’s either not enough food, or when local diets generally lack quality, variety, or desirability” and that even though California produces nearly half of the fruits and vegetables in the country nearly one in five Californians do not know where their next meal will come from. The local area is no exception. At the Thursday, Nov. 10 meeting of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch, Jessica Vaughan, Director of Development and Communications for Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, will speak about this problem and what Second Harvest is doing to meet the challenges of food insecurity locally.
Second Harvest collaborates with over 95 non-profit agencies in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties to put food on the table of families, seniors and individuals struggling with food insecurity. They have several programs: Emergency Food Assistance, Senior Brown Bags, Farm to Family, Fresh Foods 4 Kids, and Mobile Fresh. Second Harvest has partners in Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon.
Prospective members are invited to attend this 7 p.m. meeting, which will be held in a member’s home. Attendees to “in person” meetings must be fully vaccinated. Email Teri Curtis, tcjake15@gmail.com for location or Zoom information.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 170,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and more than 800 college and university members. Learn more at www.aauw.org. Branch information is at http://ore-ca.aauw.net or by emailing the branch at AAUW.ORE@gmail.com. Graduates holding an associates or higher degree from an institution of the AAUW list of qualified institutions and persons holding an honorary degree are eligible for membership in AAUW.
