Mountie Fresh Day Addresses Hunger, Nutrition
April 03, 2018 - 03:38 PM
Mt. 91直播 will kick off a new campaign to address student hunger and nutritional deficiencies as the college hosts Mountie Fresh Day on Tuesday, Apr. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Kerr鈥檚 Corner area near the Student Life Office.
The event will promote CalFresh and encourage qualified students to sign up for the program, a federally-funded nutrition assistance program that provides up to $192 a month to help people obtain nutritious food. Healthy eating and cooking demonstrations, food tastings, wellness resources, giveaways and games will all be part of the event
鈥淢ountie Fresh Day promotes not only Cal Fresh, but also healthy eating and healthy lifestyles,鈥� said Student Services Dean Koji Uesugi, who co-chairs the Homeless and Basic Resources Committee spearheading the program.
In general, students will be eligible for the program if they receive a Cal Grant A or B, are part of the work-study program, work an average of 20 hours per week, or have a child.
鈥淭his program addresses a nationwide problem, and this is Mt. 91直播鈥檚 effort to comply with the Hunger Free initiative,鈥� Uesugi said. 鈥淲hen students are hungry, that affects their ability to be successful in college.鈥�
Last fall, Mt. 91直播 received $68,000 through the California Community College Chancellor鈥檚 Office to establish a Hunger Free Campus program. The project involves promoting CalFresh (formerly the state鈥檚 food stamps program) and partnering with a community food pantry, a Mountie Fresh component to be realized in the near future.
Some of the businesses and agencies supporting the program at Mt. 91直播 include Sprouts Farmers Market, Stater Bros., Sodexo, Smart & Final, the Cal Poly Farm Store, Costco, the Mt. 91直播 Foundation, Sowing Seeds for Life, AltaMed, Country Kwik, the California Life Line 91直播, 211 L.A. County, and the Department of Social Services for L.A., San Bernardino, Riverside counties.
In addition to Mountie Fresh Day, students can also apply to CalFresh online through the L.A. County Department of Social Services website.
For more information about the Mountie Fresh, call the Student Life Office at ext. 4525.