Scotts Valley, Calif., Lub Plaub Hlis 5, 2023 — Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), the Medi-Cal managed health care plan for one out of three residents of Santa Cruz County, recently donated $28,799 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County. This funding is in response to significant impacts caused by recent atmospheric river events, which displaced residents and Alliance members from their homes. As a result, local food banks are straining to provide emergency support above and beyond their normal efforts. The Alliance’s funding to Second Harvest will support the procurement, distribution and delivery of food, services and supplies to residents, many of whom are Alliance members.
“Thanks to the support from Central California Alliance for Health, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County is able to purchase food to nourish families affected by the floods,” said Erica Padilla Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “This includes food for those residing in the evacuation center, those staying at hotels, and those staying with friends, relatives or even in their cars. Food distributions are being held regularly in Pajaro, Watsonville and in the northern part of Santa Cruz County, which was also impacted by the storms. A door-to-door warm meal program has been initiated in Pajaro thanks to the Alliance’s support. People cleaning their homes are grateful for the opportunity to have a warm meal delivered as they attempt to clear their homes of the damaged furniture and household items.”
“Our members are among the most vulnerable in our communities and are the most likely to be severely impacted by flooding, evacuations and lack of resources,” said Alliance CEO, Stephanie Sonnenshine. “Our donation is in alignment with our vision of healthy people, healthy communities and we’re grateful to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County for serving a critical role in providing the direct support our members need to survive and start to rebuild their lives.”
The Alliance is also donating funds to food banks in its services areas of Merced and Monterey counties to provide meals and other support to local displaced residents. In total, the Alliance is providing $149,999 in financial support for its local food banks, which is being distributed based on county Alliance membership numbers.
Central California Alliance for Health (lub Alliance) yog ib cheeb tsam Medi-Cal kev tswj xyuas kev noj qab haus huv hauv cheeb tsam, tsim nyob rau xyoo 1996 los txhim kho kev nkag mus rau kev saib xyuas kev noj qab haus huv rau ntau dua 416,000 tus tswv cuab hauv Merced, Monterey thiab Santa Cruz counties. Siv lub xeev tus qauv County Organized Health System (COHS), Alliance muab cov kev pabcuam kev noj qab haus huv hauv zej zog tshiab los ntawm kev sib txuas cov tswvcuab nrog cov kws kho mob uas xa cov kev pabcuam raws sijhawm thiab kev saib xyuas, tsom mus rau kev tiv thaiv, kev tshawb nrhiav ntxov thiab kev kho mob zoo. Raws li qhov khoom plig tswj hwm kev noj qab haus huv nrog lub zeem muag ntawm "cov neeg noj qab haus huv, cov zej zog noj qab haus huv," Alliance tseem tsom mus rau kev siv zog los txhim kho kev nkag mus rau kev saib xyuas kev noj qab haus huv zoo rau nws cov tswv cuab. Yog xav paub ntxiv, mus saib www.thealliance.health.
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