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Wasco proclaims May 2025 Community Action Month; CAPK warns rising need after major funding cuts
Summary
The Wasco City Council proclaimed May 2025 as Community Action Month and heard from Community Action Partnership of Kern officials that food demand is increasing while several funding sources — including a one-time CalFoods grant — have ended.
The Wasco City Council on May 6 issued a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Community Action Month and praised the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) for food distribution and Head Start services in the Wasco area.
Council members read the proclamation noting CAPK delivered more than 22,000,000 pounds of food across Kern County in 2024 and operates Head Start classrooms at Broadway and Sunrise Villa in Wasco. Susanna Magana, identified in the meeting as the director of health and nutrition services, accepted the proclamation and urged residents to use 2‑1‑1 as the entry point for housing, energy, Head Start enrollment and migrant childcare services.
Magana told the council CAPK is facing higher demand and recent funding losses. “We just had one big CalFoods grant, which was a one-time funding that we received to purchase food that sunsetted in April,” she said. Magana said CAPK’s engagements have grown from about 250,000 individuals per month (in 2023, as presented) to roughly double that figure by December of last year, and added that in the last three months CAPK experienced cuts totaling roughly $8,000,000. She asked the community to donate food or money and noted CAPK has a foundation for private support.
Claire Brown, speaking on behalf of Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmin (recorded as Jasmine) Banks’ office, thanked CAPK and described partnerships that take food distribution directly into fields and neighborhoods. Council members thanked CAPK staff and local partner organizations, including local churches, for last‑mile distribution.
The proclamation was affixed with the city seal and presented at the meeting; CAPK staff and partners posed for a group photo with council members.
Council members did not propose an immediate policy action; the item was ceremonial and informational. Council members and staff encouraged residents to donate and to notify neighbors about 2‑1‑1 as the principal access line for CAPK services.
