Camarillo endorses Ventura County neighbor fund, approves $70,000 direct grant to FoodShare

The Camarillo City Council unanimously endorsed the Ventura County Neighbor Support Coalition and approved a one-time $70,000 direct grant to Ventura County FoodShare to help address food insecurity among Camarillo residents and nearby campus and unincorporated populations.

Council members voted 5-0 to endorse the coalition, and later voted 5-0 to authorize a direct, one-time $70,000 contribution to FoodShare after debate over whether city funds should be routed through the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) to obtain matching dollars. The council’s final decision directs the city manager to provide the funds directly to FoodShare and includes a condition that the nonprofit report the number of Camarillo residents served; the council also noted that FoodShare treats recipients the same regardless of immigration status.

Councilmember Marti Martinez Bravo moved the initial funding proposal that the council ultimately adopted; Councilmember Susan Santangelo seconded the motion. The vote record showed Mayor Kevin Kildee, Vice Mayor Tennyson, Councilmembers Tremblay and Santangelo, and Martinez Bravo voting in favor.

The action follows several weeks of public comment from residents and advocates who warned of increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the region and described sharp declines in customer traffic for small businesses and growing demand at local food distributions. Local volunteer groups and nonprofit leaders told the council that volunteers and charitable organizations are already seeing rising needs among families, seniors and students.

Vanessa Bechtel, president and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation, briefed the council on the Neighbor…