The HEAL Hunger Initiative creates and aligns systems across government agencies and community organizations so everyone in Marin County has access to affordable, healthy food. HEAL partners work in three priority areas: CalFresh, Food Now and Built Environment.
CalFresh
CalFresh is the name of California’s food assistance program known across the country as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
Problem: Marin County has one of the lowest estimated CalFresh participation rates in California. Only around 45% of eligible residents receive CalFresh benefits.
Fact: If fully utilized, CalFresh, would generate an additional $45million in local economic activity.
Solution: Increase food assistance program participation by 10% in Marin County by 2021.
Food Now
Increasing access to food for hungry people when they need it.
Problem: Marin County’s food distribution systems are fragmented.
Fact: 26% older adults are at risk of food insecurity
Solution: Enhance the current food distribution system to include screening, referrals and mobile services.
Built Environment
Problem: Lack of environments that support and empower low-income communities to meet their economic needs.
Fact: Poverty is the number one indicator of food insecurity
Solution: Support urban and school farming as well as green job opportunities
Taskforce Update November 2019 – Built Environment
Marin City's Intergenerational Garden Program Successfully Implements "Train the Trainer" Model This summer, 80 youth enrolled in the Marin City summer recreation program attended garden nutrition classes coupled with hands-on gardening. Youth prepared their buckets...
Taskforce Update November 2019 – FoodNow
Healthy Food and Beverage Standards Update More than one in five Marin County household's are food insecure or struggling to avoid hunger. Food pantries play a critical role in securing food for many of these households. This has a large impact on the kinds of food...
Taskforce Update November 2019 – CalFresh
CalFresh SSI/SSP Expansion Enrolls Over 800 Eligible Recipients In June 2019, California became the last state to offer nutrition benefits (CalFresh) to older adults and persons with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income and State Supplemental Payment...
Upcoming Events – October
Training & Technical Assistance Trauma Basics and the Relationship to Nourishment Tuesday, October 29, 9-10:30 AM: This 90-minute interactive webinar will introduce how trauma and adversity impact nutritional health, eating habits, and our relationship to food....
Marin City Job & Resource Fair 2019
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM MARIN GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER 100 DONAHUE STREET, MARIN CITY CALIFORNIA 94965 Choose the Right Job / Find Needed Resources Drop by and meet employers who are hiring.Access free resources and get help to prepare for your...
Taskforce Update June 2019 – Built Environment
Marin City Intergenerational Garden Preps for Summer Recreation Program In preparation for the Marin City Summer Rec. Program, Mt. Tamalpais High School student volunteers helped clear last year’s container gardens and compiled the used soil to be fertilized for...