The Assemblymember highlights the lack of healthy food choices in his district and calls for support for the County of L.A.’s annual collaboration to reach eligible families vulnerable to hunger
Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), his wife Le Cresha, and son Jordan announced on April 17, that as a family, they are taking the CalFresh Challenge by shopping, planning and preparing meals for one week based on CalFresh supplemental food benefit allotment of $127.75 for a family of three.
Representatives of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Superior Grocers and residents of the 64th District joined the Gipson family at the Superior location in Compton.
The 64th Assembly District ranks 6th in the State for poverty and yet 45 percent of eligible residents have not signed up for CalFresh to supplement their food budgets.
“Poverty and hunger go hand-in-hand,” said Gipson. “Far too many families must choose between paying their rent and eating regularly.”
The goal of the CalFresh challenge is to bring attention to the need for families to eat healthier, even on a strict budget and faced with have few places to purchase healthy food.
“I also want to draw attention to ‘food deserts,’ those areas where low-income residents have little or no access to healthy food,” Gipson stated. “There are hundreds businesses that serve fast food, snacks and provide unhealthy choices in our area. We need more restaurants and markets that offer nutritious foods at affordable prices.”
In L.A. County Service Planning Area 6 (SPA6), which represents the 64th District, 29 percent of adults are diagnosed with hypertension and 25.5 percent with high cholesterol. Obesity rates reflect 28.9 percent of children (grades 5, 7 and 9) and 35.4 percent of adults. Both children and adults suffer from diabetes.
Gipson plans to share his family’s experience with his colleagues and formally issued a challenge for them to join him in bringing awareness to this issue. At their Tuesday, April 28 meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will proclaim May as “CalFresh Awareness Month” in the County.
“I strongly believe that you have to walk in someone’s shoes in order to attempt to understand their plight,” Gipson said. “Help spread the word to families, students, seniors and part-time employees that CalFresh program is available. Let’s do away with negative stigmas and misinformation about public assistance and start focusing on healthier eating and long happy lives!”
For more information on the CalFresh Program, visit http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/calfresh or call the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777.
