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FoodShare reports local need, $50 million capital campaign and planned 85,000‑sq‑ft food bank near Port Hueneme
Summary
Monica White told the council FoodShare Ventura County distributed nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food in Port Hueneme last year (about 800,000 meals serving ~9,500 people) and is pursuing an $50 million new food‑bank project (12 acres, 85,000 sq ft) with $45 million raised to date.
Monica White, president and CEO of FoodShare Ventura County, briefed the Port Hueneme City Council on July 20 about hunger in Ventura County and local distribution in Port Hueneme, and outlined a major capital project.
White said FoodShare served about 254,000 unduplicated individuals countywide last year. Locally, FoodShare distributed nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food in Port Hueneme — approximately 800,000 meals — serving roughly 9,500 individuals; she said that equates to roughly 44 percent of residents needing food assistance over the last year. White described the FoodShare network (about 200 partner agencies countywide) and the reliance on donations, gleaning, government commodities and purchased food (FoodShare purchases about $2.5 million in food annually and operates on about a $10 million annual budget).
White announced a proposed new FoodShare facility at a Woolly and Rose site: 12 acres and an 85,000‑square‑foot building — about three times their current size. She said the capital campaign totals $50 million and that FoodShare has raised $45 million to date (about 91 percent of the target). The organization is working through permitting and expected to break ground later in the year if approvals proceed.
Council members asked about distribution sites, volunteer requirements and senior kit eligibility; White said the College Park drive‑through (Oxnard) remains FoodShare’s largest weekly distribution (about 1,000 cars per week) and that FoodShare needs about 70 volunteers weekly for that site. She described the senior kit program as a government program with self‑certification criteria (over 60, living in Ventura County and self‑certified under California’s poverty threshold) and said there are about 35 direct distribution locations for senior kits.
White also described FoodShare’s partnerships locally and noted the organization would welcome additional city partners for distribution or fundraising. Council members thanked FoodShare for the presentation and for ongoing local programs.
