City proclaims Hunger Awareness Day; council introduces new diversity, equity and inclusion manager

Vice Mayor Michelle Shoresman read a city proclamation recognizing June 6, 2025 as Hunger Awareness Day in San Luis Obispo and invited a representative of the SLO Food Bank to address the council.

A SLO Food Bank representative (name not stated in the public record portion of the meeting) described a sharp and sustained increase in local food insecurity and thanked volunteers and donors. The speaker said the SLO Food Bank now serves "over 39,000 neighbors in need each month" countywide, distributes nearly 5,000,000 pounds of food a year through a network of more than 70 nonprofit partners and is responding to what the speaker described as a 16% surge in demand since the start of the COVID pandemic. "Food insecurity is something that happens behind closed doors," the representative said, urging public support for hunger-relief efforts and announcing a warehouse open house on Hunger Awareness Day.

After the proclamation, Deputy City Manager Greg Herman introduced Matt Penin as the city's new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager. Herman noted Penin's prior public-sector DEI experience with Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services and the San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department and welcomed him back to the Central Coast. Penin spoke briefly about his goals to embed DEI principles throughout city operations and thanked the council for the opportunity.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked the food-bank representative and welcomed the new DEI manager. Councilmembers said the proclamation and the employee appointment underscore ongoing city efforts to address food insecurity and to strengthen inclusive operations and services.