Like many other parents, Diana Bacho was shopping for groceries for herself and her three children at a Lucky supermarket in San Jose on Wednesday morning.
Her cart contained eggs, meat, lots of berries and other fruits, cucumbers (which her younger daughter loves), and canned tuna, which she prepares and serves to the children in tortillas. Bacho was one of the California families who paid for their groceries with SUN Bucks, a new government welfare program designed to ensure school-age children have healthy meals during the summer when free school lunches are suspended.
“This has been a very helpful resource for me and my children,” Bacho said through an interpreter. “Since my children are at home more, they eat throughout the day, so bringing this food into the house is very helpful.”
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Bacho said she also likes being able to make her own selections at the store, but when she buys groceries at a Second Harvest of Silicon Valley food distribution, she puts together meals from whatever she has.
Jennifer Shelton, director of public relations and government affairs at SaveMart (which owns Lucky), said accepting SUN Bucks is just one way the grocery chain is trying to reduce food insecurity in the area, and she wants to educate shoppers like Bacho: “We want to make sure people like Diana know that their dollar goes a long way here,” she said.
Although it’s new, the program has proven to be really important and effective for low-income families, says Rachel Monaco, senior manager of policy and advocacy at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
“We’ve heard from a lot of families that it’s been a huge help to them to fill the gap over the summer. And we’ve also heard from families that they really like the option that best fits their families’ needs,” she said.
Sounds great, right? It’s for the families who know about the benefit, which provides $120 a month to each eligible child. Monaco says there are about 1 million children in the state who could participate, but whose families haven’t signed up for SUN Bucks. Most likely because they haven’t heard about the new program. Although we’re in the final weeks of summer, families can still sign up for full benefits through their schools until August 31.
For more information about SUN Bucks and eligibility requirements, visit www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks.
ON THE WAY TO ALBUQUERQUE: Santa Clara County Councilwoman Cindy Chavez will be heading to the land of enchantment this fall, as the Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to sign her contract as the new county supervisor. Chavez, whose term on the board ends this year, is expected to start her new job in Albuquerque on Nov. 13, a week after the election to select her successor.
Stay tuned, because by then there will undoubtedly be at least one farewell event in the community to honor her four decades of public service.
BOOK BONANZA: Books Inc. is hosting its popular warehouse sale this weekend at its store in the Pruneyard in Campbell. New books are priced at $5 to $10 – the collection includes contemporary and classic fiction and nonfiction, plus special discounts on board games, puzzles and gift items. The sale runs Saturday and Sunday, so you can pick up something to read while you relax on Labor Day.
