NEWS FLASH!!!

Extra food assistance during COVID-19

Cal Fresh helps individuals and families purchase healty food by providing a monthly stipend on an EBT card which can be used in grocery stores and at some farmer's markets.

Get  Cal Fresh, Quick and Simple

You can apply in as little as 10 minutes! Go to getCal-fresh.org to fill out an application., or call 1-877-847-3663 to get connected to your local county  office.

More Cal Fresh on your EBT card in April and May

If you get Cal Fresh in March or will get it in April and are not already getting the maximum for your household size, you will get extra benefits up to the maximum.

Other Assistance Available

For a complete list of Food Distribution Locations, Food Pantries, and Meal Sites near you, visit the Food Bank's Online Food Locator:

https://www.slofoodbank.org/food-locator/

For a list of additional local resources and up-to-date information, please visit:www.readyslo.org

Restaurants Deliver Home Meals for Seniors. "Great Plates Delivered"

This program, created by Gavin Newsom on April 24, will pay local restaurants to deliver three  nutritious meals every day of the week during the coronavirus epidemic to at-risk seniors 65 and older and adults 60 - 64 who are at high risk from COVID19. Restaurants can receive up to $16.00 for breakfasts, $17.00 for lunch, and $28.00 for dinners. For more information and to apply for the program, call 211 or visit the website homemealsforseniors.com . As of 5/17/2020: this program is not yet available in SLO County. Call 211 for updates. 

"Great Plates Delivered" will run until June 10, 2020, although the state plans to request an extension of the progrm.

A new Federal Program, "Farmers to Families Food Box Program", developed in part by the Daughter in Chief Ivanka Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has been unveiled on April 17. The program will purchase and distribute up to 3 billion dollars of agricultural products to those in need.         

     Under this program, the federal government buys meat, dairy products, and produce from farmers and ranchers and then provides it to local distribution centers that pack and distribute it to those in need. Mr. Perdue says that the program will also address gaps in the food supply chain spawned by the coronavirus.

     Ivanka Trump has called UPS chief executive David Abney about volunteering trucks to make food box deliveries.

     The Agriculture Department has already awarded $1.2 billion dollars to food distributers to buy meat, dairy products, and produce that farmers have been unable to sell because of government lockdowns.

      Suppliers like Coastal Sunbelt Produce are packaging the fruits and vegetables in family-sized cardboard boxes and expect to deliver 35,000 boxes per week to food banks, community and religious organizations, and other non-profits through June 30.    

City of Morro Bay Posts New Website for Coronavirus Information.

The City of Morro Bay just posted a new website: www.morrobayca.gov/covid19 

The website provides current information about the coronavirus pandemic.

It has many helpful links to services and organizations. 

Also, check out Morro Bay Cares. For information, call

Jennifer Calloway 805-772-6217

(Formerly the MASH EVENT)

CCN

Community Connection Network

County of San Luis Obispo Community Connection

Morro Bay Vets Hall

Every year, date to be announced.

Free Community Dinner 5PM

The mission:

• To bring a wide variety of caring, dedicated providers
• Promote camaraderie,and unity in our county
• Advocate for under-represented/serviced groups​​

​​

Lunch provided by Creole Lovin', Low income assistance, Mental health services, Medical Services, Housing assistance, and many more service providers.

For more information: 805-781-5766

Pictures of the event Feb. 24:

Jobs available in 2020 Census

The US Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country. They are hiring for a variety of temporary jobs with great pay and flexible hours. Apply now at zubi.r.olin@2020census.gov 

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Bellflower Announces Plans for Temporary Homeless Shelter

Plans are continuing to establish a temporary shelter for 50 people in an 18,000 square-foot empty commercial building at 8833 Cedar St, which the city plans to rent for $11,000/month.

Habitat for Humanity and local contractors will help modify the structure, adding plumbing, showers, and partitions to separate sleeping areas for men, women, and families.

A completion date of December has been suggested.

San Luis Obispo County

Commission on Aging

COA 2020

A Clear Vision for the Future of Seniors

• ​Senior Outreach - Communicating information to the Senior population; and providing tech support for computers and cell phones.
• Transportation - Education on how to use shuttles and busses; and transportation for out of county medical appointments.
• Financial Support - Identity theft and scam updates and info;      assistance / advocacy for budgeting, banking,auto pay,benefits (Medicare, SSI, Vets, etc...)
• Home Support and Maintenance - Disaster preparadness (education and preparation); and installation of safety features (home security lights, alarms, ramps, grab bars...)
• Medical Support - Advocacy at doctors' offices and emergency, and Rx (prescriiption) education, mamagement, lethal / dangeroous interactions, overdoses. 

Public is welcomed and encouraged to attend our monthly commission meetings the 3rd Friday of the month 10:00 a.m. at ther SLO Vet's Hall. For more info please visit:

www.slocopunty.ca.gov/coa.htm

Senior Home Repair

Free Minor Home Repairs

for senior citizens - 60 and older

Repairs Offered

• Grab Bars
• Handrails
• Smoke Alarms & CO Detectors
• Handheld Shower Heads
• Minor Plumbing, Carpentry,
• Electrical & Drywall

Available in San Luis Obispo County, Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Guadaloupe.

All labor is free of charge and some material costs can be covered. Donations are gratefully accepted.

1-800-495-0501 EXT 10

Community Action Partnership of 

San Luis Obispo County, Inc.

Energy Services

San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93401

www.capslo.org

Estero Bay Kindness Coalition

Earlier this year, Bobby Delancellotti and his wife founded the Estero Bay Kindness Coalition (which is working towards 501C3 status) as a means to help address the issue of low income school children not having food to eat during the weekends. The "Got Your Back" program of the  organization has purchased at least 40  backpacks that are distributed to local at-need school children to take home each weekend and return on Mondays. Each backpack contains 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners, along with healthy snacks and juice or milk to help bridge the gap over the weekend.

Sharon O'Brien is the liasion between the Kindness Coalition and the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce.

***Starting the 2018 school year, the organization has now been asked to expand service to 5 schools.

***The Lions Foundation just offered to donate 40 more backpacks to the organization.  

***Estero Bay Kindness Coalition is looking to partner with for-profiits, non-profits, churches, and organizations to help serve those on the margins in the Estero Bay area.

For information or donations of food or funds, please call 805-305-5671

www.esterobaykindnesscoalition.org

NEW!

Los Osos Community Dinner!

It's Free!

It's Delicious!

It's every Thursday starting May 9, 5 - 6 pm. at South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades, Los Osos.

All are welcome! 

Dinners are provided by a number of local community restaurants and organizations including

St. Benedicts Church, Maharlica Christian Fellowship,4-H,PeopleHelping People, Rotary,Jesus Christ Church of the Latter Day Saints, and Trinity United Methodist Church

Check it out!

ALSO DON'T FORGET

The AWESOME

Morro Bay Community Dinner

FREE - ALL ARE WELCOME

Every Monday night, 5-6pm

Veteran's hall, 209 Surf St., Morro Bay

HEART RHYTHMS DRUM CIRCLE

First Friday of Every Month beginning May 3

5 - 7pm

1304 Pacific St., SLO

Showers of Hope

With over 1,000 showers now given, surpassing their previous record, Hope Village Mobile Shower Program 

needs dental supplies. Please ask your dentist or dental school for donations.

hopesvillageofslo.com/showers.html

For information, call: 805-234-5478

9/24/2018 Good News About Homeless Laws!!! This week, the Ninth Circuit of the Federal Appeals Court (which covers California) ruled that prosecuting homeless people who sleep on the streets or public areas where there is no shelter available is a form of cruel and unusual punishment, and violates the constitution. It added that "a municipality cannot criminalize such behavior consistent with the Eighth Amendment when no sleeping space is practically available in any shelter."  

Rent Gouging Prohibited by California State of Emergency

Because of the high risk of wildfires, Governor Newson declared a State of Emergency on March 22, which appears to trigger California Penal Code 396 prohibiting price gouging, (an increase over 10%) for necessary goods and services. 

For tenants in CA facing high rent increases, this would mean that any increase over 10% is prohibited. 

There is a narrow exception for price increases over 10% if the landlord proves that the price increase is directly related to cost increases.

Tenants who face rent increasess over 10% in areas where the State of Emergency has been declared should seek help immediately. Resoources include local legal aid offices and local district attorneys. Price gouging tenants is not just a civil violation, but a criminal misdemeanor under the law.

Hunger Awareness Day - June 1, 2018 at  Morro Bay City Park, was a very successful fund raising event sponsored by SLO Foodbank Coalition and supported by the City of Morro Bay.***Morro Bay raised $1422.00  Thank you Morro Bay residents!!!***

Hunger Awareness Day  Morro Bay City Park, June 7, 2019. Dawn Addis, Morro Bay City Council welcomes Andrea Keisler, Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo, Director of Programs. Below is Red Davis, Morro Bay City Council, joining the donation drive. MANY THANKS !!!

Vending Machines for the Homeless

Action Hunger in Nottingham, Lincolnshire, UK is installing vending machines that can provide socks,gloves, water, food, blankets, and other itams to homeless people. The machines use special cards issued by Action Hunger. Clients can access the machines three times in each 24 hour period.

Action Hunger Trustees http://cnn.it/2cjuzco

Instant Gift Giving With Amazon Prime

Wheels for Change 16 Year Old Boy is Creating Jobs for the Homeless in San Diego.

Inspired by Ted Talks, Kevin Barber of San Diego has started a pilot program to provide jobs for San Diego's Homeless. With financial help from his mother, an emergency room doctor who interacts with homeless daily and who initially funded the program, the two purchased a van and hire homeless people to clean up the city streets. The program called Wheels for Change, pays participants $11.50/hour in cash at the end of each shift. There is now a waiting list of 150 people who want to participate. (Thanks Facebook)

**Reunite Families poster was painted by SLO artist LindaTrot** 

SLO Progressives Sponsor KIND

(Kids in Need of Defense)

A national non-profit that will "Lawyer up" children who come to the California border asking for assylum. All donations go directly to:

https://donate.supportkind.org/campaign/kids-in-need-of-defense-kind/c189421