Foodbank of Santa Barbara County CEO Erik Talkin discusses strategies to fund health initiatives during a 2017 meeting at the County Education Office in Santa Barbara. Rep. Salud Carbajal has invited Talkin to be his guest during the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County employee Josh Place, left, helps a woman pick up free food distributed to federal employees in Lompoc impacted by the government shutdown on Jan. 18. To highlight the importance of nutritional assistance programs, Rep. Salud Carbajal has invited food bank CEO Erik Talkin to be his guest during the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Rep. Salud Carbajal has asked Foodbank of Santa Barbara County CEO Erik Talkin to be his guest during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
The State of the Union address, which was initially scheduled for Jan. 29, was rescheduled due to the 35-day-long partial government shutdown. During the shutdown, the Foodbank organized emergency food distributions to federal workers that had been furloughed.
“The Santa Barbara County food bank stepped up immediately to help feed federal workers in our community who didn’t know where else to turn," Carbajal said.
As a recent addition to the House Agriculture Committee, Carbajal said he is concerned about possible changes to nutrition assistance programs that could impact families in need.
"I want to join Erik in sending the president a strong message: We will not allow yet another roadblock to be placed in front of struggling families who are working hard to get back on their feet," Carbajal said.
Talkin recently began a food security challenge to spend one month living on $6.46 per day — the maximum amount a one-person household can receive on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food stamp benefits. Talkin said his challenge will continue during the State of the Union.
“The food bank is thrilled to have its long work in ending food insecurity [recognized], moving the community from hunger to health with education and disaster preparedness,” Talkin said. “Most recently, since the onset of the partial federal government shutdown, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provided fresh produce and healthy groceries to 1,500 individuals.”
