Image caption: Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center staff bring holiday cheer to local families L to R: Michelle Pogue, CalFresh Outreach; Michelle Kaufmann, Youth Diversion Coordinator; Crystal Wanswick, Cal Poly Humboldt Social Work Intern; Amy Terrones, MSW, Community Services Director; and Brandy Bremer, Community Health Outreach Worker.

The Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center (FRC) hosted an exceptionally robust Winter Supply Distribution on Friday, December 19^th at Redway Elementary School. Through community partnerships and grants, they distributed over $60,000 worth of food, fresh local produce, gift cards, and laptops to eligible families in the Southern Humboldt region, the largest distribution they have ever hosted.

This year’s event reflected a remarkable collaboration among regional funders, community partners, and local leaders, who came together to ensure families have access to food, technology, and essential resources to support them through an exceptionally difficult time of year for many.

Event contributions included:

• Humboldt Area Foundation Holiday Food Funding and a Wellness and Solidarity grant, to provide $50 grocery and $50 gas cards to 40 local families, helping to ease financial strain during Winter Break.
• Food for People and Shop Smart supplied 100 non-perishable food bags for distribution.
• Community First Credit Union contributed $4,500, for the purchase of additional 25 $50 grocery gift cards and fresh local produce from Chautauqua Natural Foods, including potatoes, onions, carrots, and apples.
• North Coast Grower’s Association provided 50 Harvest Boxes including produce from Trident Lightening Farm, John’s Happy Garden, Wild Rose Farm, Little River Farm, Green Spiral Farm, Willow Creek Farm, Mycality Mushrooms, Rain Frog Farms.
• Through the advocacy of 2^nd District County Supervisor, Michelle Bushnell, the FRC was connect with AT&T for a special offering to bring 150 refurbished laptop computers to local families and students.
• AT&T also funded a full suite of additional on-site support, including computer setup and technical support during distribution provided by Emerald Technologies, a catered dinner by Il Forno Bakery, the Forget-ME-Not party photobooth, 70 gift certificates to Home Cooking Take & Bake Restaurant, and 150 Renner gas cards.

The Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center extends heartfelt thanks to Michelle Bushnell, AT&T, Humboldt Area Foundation, Community First Credit Union, Food for People, Shop Smart, North Coast Grower’s Association, and the local partners who have continued to show up for families when it matters most.

FRC Director, Amy Terrones shares that, “School-aged children often eat school meals during the week. When children are off school for two weeks, they can experience food insecurity and worry. Providing families with supplemental food, produce, and grocery cards reduces the stress of Winter Break hunger and helps children develop into their healthiest and most successful selves.”

Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center is a long-standing cornerstone of support for families in our region, serving over 2500 families and individuals each year. The annual holiday supply distribution event represents what’s possible when community, philanthropy, and corporate partners come together with a shared commitment to dignity, access, and care.

For more information about the services offered at Southern Humboldt Family Resource Center, visit sohumhealth.org/frc or call (707) 923-1147. The FRC is a service of SoHum Health and is located on the Redway School campus at 344 Humboldt Ave, Redway, CA 95560. They are open Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm.

SHCHD, Staff writer