Angel Reynolds arrived in Marin County 8 years ago with nothing and sought assistance from the county, including CalFresh benefits. While initially reluctant due to pride, CalFresh provided critical assistance with food and stability as he got back on his feet after caring for his ill father. Now established in the community, Reynolds is grateful to the county programs that helped him through a difficult time. CalFresh plays an important role in alleviating food insecurity for many county residents.

1. PUTTING
Healthy
FoodON THE TABLE

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Eight years ago, Angelo Reynolds arrived
in Marin County with empty pockets but
a determination for a better life for his
family.
When his father fell off a scaffold
during a construction project, Angelo
left his job to care for him full time. He
eventually depleted his savings and knew
it was time for a big change.
Angelo and his wife were familiar
with Marin County and decided it would
be a great place for a fresh start. They made
a home at a local Corte Madera motel and
sought out the County’s local resources.
It wasn’t easy for Angelo though. Coming
from a more traditional background,
the idea of seeking assistance was an
uncomfortable proposition. Angelo
quickly let go of any fears, however,
when he embraced the County’s array of
programs, particularly CalFresh.
“When I came in I was reluctant
to apply for aid, for me it was a pride
thing and tough to swallow, but when
you have kids you throw all that stuff out
the window,” Reynolds said, reflecting
on his experience. “From the moment I
walked in the door, the County was there
with everything and anything to help us,”
Reynolds said. “Coming from having
nothing, getting help to pay for basics like
food was a critical part of getting me on
my feet and brought stability to my life
after a traumatic event.”
The paperwork and requirements
were easy to follow, Angelo said. Even
better, there were lots of local markets that
accepted CalFresh benefits. The monthly
CalFresh allotment allowed him to stretch
his dollars further and provide nutritional
choices for his household. The EBT
debit card also helped Angelo feel more
comfortable using CalFresh at local stores.
“From the moment I walked in the
door, the County was there with
everythingandanythingtohelpus”
Enrolling in CalFresh opened
Angelo’s eyes to all the other forms of
assistance available to him, from help with
utility bills to even covering a month’s rent.
Now, Angelo is a star of the
community. He credits the strong
relationships with County staff and
assistance like CalFresh for turning his life
around.
“For me, I just have such gratitude
for having that resource available,” he said.
“When I look back at everything that
has happened, without that help, I think
maybe I could have figured things out on
my own, but the County made things way
easier for me.”
A Saving
Grace
CALFRESH HELPED ONE MAN TURN
HIS LIFE AROUND
Receiving CalFresh is now
easier than ever with the
Golden State Advantage
card, or Electronic Benefits
Transfer (EBT) card.
Your CalFresh
benefits are automatically
deposited to your EBT card
each month and used like a
debit card at most grocery
stores, neighborhood stores
and farmers markets.
During checkout,
swipe your card and enter
your personal identification
number (PIN). The amount
spent will be deducted from
your monthly allotment.
If you qualify for
CalFresh, you will receive
the card in the mail. You will
continue receiving CalFresh
benefits on your EBT card
for as long as you qualify.
Golden State Advantage Card

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I have to come into the county office to apply for benefits.
You can apply by phone, mail or online. While people must be
interviewed, the interview does not need to be in person.
If a child receives CalFresh, they will have to pay it back by age 18,
go to war and the government will take them into custody
A child is not required to pay back any aid, go to war or go into
government custody as a result of receiving CalFresh benefits.
Applying for or receiving CalFresh benefits will affect my family in
the future with immigration, schooling or military service.
Participation in CalFresh will not affect the status of immigration,
schooling or military service.
If you are working, you can’t receive CalFresh benefits.
Having a job does not automatically disqualify you from aid, many
CalFresh recipients are families or individuals with jobs. CalFresh
is a food and nutrition program that helps to supplement your
monthly food budget.
Receiving CalFresh means having to use food stamps at stores,
which is very embarrassing.
CalFresh actually provides monthly electronic benefits through
an EBT card that can be used like a debit card to buy food. Most
stores and farmers markets in Marin County accept the card, as
well as 80,000 locations statewide.
Eligibility WHO QUALIFIES FOR CALFRESH BENEFITS?
If you have this gross monthly income or less, you could be eligible for benefits.
CalFresh
Myths & Truths
MARIN COUNTY ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST
ANJURLE DUCHAUSSEE DISPELS COMMON
MYTHS ABOUT CALFRESH
MYTH
TRUTH
MYTH
TRUTH
MYTH
TRUTH
MYTH
TRUTH
MYTH
TRUTH
1 PERSON
$1,211
2 PEOPLE
$1,640
4 PEOPLE
$2,498
5 PEOPLE
$2,927
3 PEOPLE
$2,069
6 PEOPLE
$3,356
For each additional family member add $429

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In West Marin, the largest rural region of
Marin County, the Department of Health
and Human Services’ (HHS) door is wide
open to those in need of food assistance.
Since 1977, West Marin has
provided food aid to qualifying seniors,
families and the homeless through the
West Marin Service Center.
Eligibility Worker Jennifer
Murphy said that the economic recession
really highlighted how much CalFresh
can make a difference in a community
member’s life.
“We are a close-knit community
andareinterlinkedwithfoodbanks
and able to network with a wealth
of local non-profit agencies...We
can provide education and help
people get creative in comparison
to other counties who deal with
large case loads.”
“During the recession, people
applied for food stamps that had never
applied for benefits before,” Murphy said.
“It was hard for them to ask for benefits
but they were thankful that there were
programs to help.”
The office, like the other HHS
outlets county-wide, prides itself on
offering one-on-one assistance to the
public. This allows workers to make
people feel more comfortable, removing
the stigma sometimes felt when seeking
assistance.
“We are a close-knit community
and are interlinked with food banks and
able to network with a wealth of local non-
profit agencies,” said Paula Glodowski-
Valla, Program Manager. “We can provide
education and help people get creative in
comparison to other counties who deal
with large case loads.”
The office has received numerous cards
over the years thanking them for all the
support CalFresh provided.
The biggest challenge is
communicatingthebenefitsoftheCalFresh
program to the elderly population, who
may already be receiving Social Security
benefits.
“For seniors, it can be a big help
because CalFresh helps them stretch their
income further,” Murphy said.
CalFresh Binds
a Community
Together
WEST MARIN:
PROVIDING FOOD ASSISTANCE SINCE 1977
13,256
4,770Individuals Who
Received CalFresh
Families Who
Received CalFresh
Marin County CalFresh 2012 BY THE NUMBERS
5,616
1,498
Individuals
under 18
Who Received CalFresh Benefits
Individuals
over 55
Who Received CalFresh Benefits
Representing

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For one Novato woman, enrolling in
CalFresh not only provided food assistance
but an education on how to eat nutritiously
on a budget.
“This resident did an amazing
job changing her way of life when she
decided to make efforts to live healthy,
because she has diabetes and her kids were
at risk for the disease as well,” said Health
Educator Oscar Guardado. “CalFresh and
the Nutrition Wellness Program helped
her turn her life around. The family is a lot
healthier and better informed on the right
foods to buy.”
“People do not just receive money,
they receive ideas on how to eat
right when money is tight”
The Nutrition Wellness Program
works in conjunction with CalFresh-
eligible residents to increase awareness
on healthy and affordable meal choices.
The program primarily serves low-income
families with limited resources.
“Studiesshowthatthispopulation
typically eats less fruits and veggies and
gets limited exercise, putting them at risk
for larger medical issues,” Guardado said.
From individual information to
group seminars on nutrition, the Nutrition
Wellness Program uses practical and
creative ways to reach out to residents who
may have limited access to healthy food.
One tactic features Potter the Otter who
teaches the importance of drinking water
to kids. Another is healthy community
events offering lectures on affordable
fruits and vegetables. These events also
spread awareness about food banks and
churches that hold community dinners
and potlucks.
“People do not just receive
money, they receive ideas on how to eat
right when money is tight,” Guardado said.
“Many food options can be bought using
EBT debit cards, including unhealthy
products such as sweetened beverages and
other snacks, so our part is educating on
how to best use their dollars.”
CalFresh and the Nutrition
Wellness Program inspire recipients
to utilize the large network of County
providers that accept the EBT Card. The
Sunday and Thursday Civic Center local
farmers markets accept EBT and will often
match every $10 cardholders spend on
fresh and seasonal foods.
Eating Right When Money is Tight
GETTING ACCESS TO PROPER NUTRITION EVEN ON A STRICT BUDGET
Electronic applications
for food and nutrition
assistance have increased
173%
since
2011
Marin County CalFresh 2012 BY THE NUMBERS
593
Average CalFresh
Applications
Received Per
Month
95
Average CalFresh
Electronic
Applications
Received Per
Month
CalFresh
Applications
Received
CalFresh
Electronic Applications
Received
1,144
7,115

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Marin County
Area Agency
on Aging:
Nutrition Services
In addition to CalFresh benefits,
there are nutrition services
available for seniors who need
them. Find out more below.
WHAT IS IT?
The Marin County nutrition program
consists of a congregate dining
program and home-delivered meal
program.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Those age 60+ can apply and there are
no income limits.
HOW DO YOU APPLY?
All participants are screened for
eligibility, and must complete an
intake form. Home delivered meal
participants are assessed through an
in-person interview. Call 457-4636
(INFO) to see if you qualify.
WHERE ARE THE
CONGREGATE MEALS SERVED?
Serving sites located throughout Marin
County. Call 457-4636 (INFO) for site
locations and times.
Administered by Marin County,
Aging and Adult Services:
(415) 457-4636 (INFO)
www.marincounty.org/aging
CalFresh assistance can be vital to
seniors, who are oftentimes isolated
from the County at large.
“Outreach is important
because most seniors are living alone.
Most of them know about Meals on
Wheels but not about CalFresh or newer
community programs,” said Eligibility
Worker Patricia Lis. “The challenge is
that most are from a generation that
went through the Great Depression and
are too proud to get the help they need.”
For some, the stigma is
impossible to overcome. Lis received
a two-page letter from an elderly man
who was eligible for the maximum $200
in CalFresh benefits, but explained he
felt his poor choices in life made him
feel unworthy for the assistance.
Many senior clients also have
difficulty learning the new debit card
technology. They have trouble using
the card or forget how to use it which
embarrasses them in grocery store lines,
Lis said.
“Outreach is important because
most seniors are living alone.
Most of them know about
Meals on Wheels but not about
CalFresh or newer community
programs.”
For others, it can be the help
needed for an unexpected turn in life.
One client planned to teach courses in
India and when her arrangements fell
through, turned to CalFresh for a new
start. “She was a very sharp and bright
woman and was grateful for the help we
could provide.” Lis said.
The majority of seniors who
already have social security benefits are
also eligible to apply for CalFresh but
can be discouraged by the paperwork. In
comparison to other counties, however,
eligibility workers like Lis can provide
personalized assistance to help navigate
the unfamiliar application process.
Once seniors get through
the County’s open doors to apply for
CalFresh, it is easy to learn about a
number of other support programs
available.
“Maybe it is not initially all
they hoped for, but enrolling in CalFresh
allows us to inform them about other
resources like special PG & E rates,”
Lis said. “We work to show them that
all of it can be a help.” With CalFresh
seniors can make the most of their
fixed incomes and ensure that they have
access to healthy and nutritious foods.
Overcoming the Stigma
COMMUNICATING THE IMPORTANCE OF CALFRESH TO THE SENIOR COMMUNITY

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What are the largest health issues facing
Marin County residents?
Like most communities
nationwide, Marin is experiencing
increased rates of obesity, high blood
pressure and diabetes. These conditions
increase risk of heart attack and stroke,
which are the leading causes of preventable
death in the County. This is important
because we know that good nutrition
can prevent these events and keep people
healthy. Overall, one in three children in
Marin are overweight, particularly in low-
income families. Some County residents
are not able to take advantage of the
opportunities for healthy eating and active
living that many of us take for granted in
Marin County.
What impact, big and small, does
CalFresh have on families in need of
food assistance?
During these hard economic
times some families have to make tough
choices between buying healthy foods
and paying their bills. CalFresh provides
a safety net which reassures families that
even during tough times, they can be
properly nourished. Families struggling to
make ends meet may choose less nutritious
options due to cost, convenience, and
limited understanding of alternatives.
Poor diets contribute to chronic diseases
like diabetes that increase health care costs
and can limit quality of life. Also, studies
have shown that children who are not well
nourished do not learn as well in school.
Just as the right nutrients provide the
building blocks for a healthy body, healthy
people provide the foundation for a
strong community. When food assistance
is combined with support for healthy
decisions about nutrition and exercise,
programs like CalFresh can have a lasting
impact on the whole community.
What are some steps Marin is taking
to improve the overall health of the
community?
We believe that every person
in Marin County should have the
opportunity to make informed choices
every day. Scientists are learning that the
most important factors related to health
happen outside of the doctor’s office.
Health begins from the ground up - in
our neighborhoods, in our families and in
the places we play, learn and work. Marin
County Health and Human Services
is partnering with doctors and nurses,
schools, community-based organizations,
the County Board of Supervisors and
other agencies to help build a system
that raises the bar. The Healthy Eating,
Active Living (HEAL) initiative is one
example of a community-wide effort to
improve nutritional awareness, access to
healthy foods and to create safe options
for physical activity. The recently opened
community garden in the Canal District
of San Rafael, where families can grow
their own produce and gather around
healthy activities is a model for the kind of
program that can improve the overall well-
being of the community.
What is the importance of increasing
health and nutrition awareness for the
County’s younger generations?
Access to better nutrition through
CalFresh is important, but it’s not enough
on its own. It’s important that people are
educated on nutritional food options,
how to prepare them, and to understand
the benefits of exercise. We should focus
on children because they are just forming
their habits which get harder to break when
they’re older. Children who grow up where
healthy eating and active living are valued,
will have longer and healthier lives and
will set examples for their own children.
Over time, this can reverse the trend of
increased chronic disease like obesity and
allow every community in Marin to thrive.
Creating A
Healthier Lifestyle
MARIN COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER DR. MATTHEW WILLIS
SPEAKS ABOUT CALFRESH, COUNTY HEALTH AND HIS GOALS.

8. How Do You Apply?
• Call (415) 473-3400
• Go online to WWW.C4YOURSELF.COM
• Apply in-person at one of the locations on the map
West Marin
Health and Human Services
100 6th Street
Point Reyes Station, 94956
(415) 663-8271 Marin County
Health and Human Services
120 N. Redwood Dr.
San Rafael, 94903
(415) 473-3400
Marin County WIC
(Women, Infants, & Children)
3250 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael, 94901
(415) 473-6889
Published by Marin County Health and Human Services
Articles written by Alison Sexauer
To request a copy e-mail hhsmedia@marincounty.org