Lake County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve $60,000 in temporary hunger-relief funding after Social Services staff described increased demand following a delay in CalFresh benefits.

Social Services Director Rachel Delman Parsons told the board she would withdraw the office’s request for a local disaster declaration after the California Department of Social Services food branch advised the county that such a declaration would not unlock additional food-box resources for this situation. "I would like to withdraw the request for disaster declaration," Parsons said, adding that available response mechanisms and partner networks provide the necessary access to supplies.

Parsons said the county had previously authorized emergency relief — $40,000 a week, $80,000 total — when November CalFresh benefits failed to issue. The ad hoc food-insecurity work group moved quickly with partner Redwood Empire Food Bank; Parsons said the original $80,000 was allocated with about $70,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank (to boost local pantries and food banks), $9,500 to purchase MREs (meals ready to eat), and $500 for 10‑ride bus passes to help people reach distributions.

Tara Gallandolfo, the county’s CalFresh program manager, described individual hardship stories collected during distributions and outreach, saying the full CalFresh benefit for a qualifying individual can be as little as "$292 a month," and that shortfalls have pushed families into difficult tradeoffs between food, medication and heating.

Parsons said Redwood Empire Food Bank agreed to bill the county for services rather than wait for county procurement, and included a $20,000 passthrough to Clear Lake Gleaners to support local efforts. Parsons told the board that week‑one deliveries had already occurred and additional deliveries were expected later in the month, while the county continues to resolve delayed MRE shipments and is attempting to cancel and re‑order from vendors that can deliver.

Public commenter Margo Kambara urged the ad hoc and partners to take measures that make neighbors with immigration concerns feel safe picking up food, recommending private or employee‑only pick‑up spaces at distribution sites. She also asked about state permission to feed children during holiday periods when school meal programs are closed.

Parsons recommended a short-term augmentation of "$20,000 a week for the next three weeks," not to extend past Dec. 31, with the board set to revisit the request at its Dec. 9 meeting. Supervisor Paiske moved to approve "additional funding for hunger relief of $60,000," a motion that was seconded and carried on a 4‑0 vote.

Parsons said she will provide the board with the slide showing where the additional dollars will be allocated. Board members praised staff and partner coordination, including Redwood Empire Food Bank and Clear Lake Gleaners, for quickly expanding capacity to meet increased need.

Next steps: staff will continue distribution coordination, pursue vendors who can deliver ordered MREs, track service gaps (partners agreed to try to record turned‑away families), and return to the board on Dec. 9 for any further action.