Uplifting Local Families

More than 40% of Monterey County residents are food insecure. It’s a little known statistic that the Food Bank for Monterey County works tirelessly to upend. Through innovative programs—including Diapers & Dignity, Breast Cancer and Pediatric Patient Food Assistance, Kids NOW (Nutrition On Weekends), Emergency Food Assistance, and many others—the Food Bank serves the needs of more than 160,000 Monterey County residents each month.

In conjunction with our story, “Formulating a Better World For New Parents,” we are proud to unite Bobbie, the mom-led organic infant formula company whose CCO, Sara Ahmed Holman, is based in Carmel, with the Food Bank for a generous donation that will have a real impact this season. Through the Diapers & Dignity initiative, Bobbie’s contribution of formula and diapers goes directly to help local mothers. The program, which is unique to Monterey County, was created in response to the alarming number of infants who lack basic supplies, and the mothers who would otherwise be forced out of work or school due to an inability to afford those supplies and thus maintain daycare. It currently serves 200 mothers, but Bobbie’s donation allows the Food Bank to provide additional assistance beyond those enrolled in the program. (Its waitlist tops 800.)

Diapers & Dignity, in addition to the Food Bank’s other programs, is critical to achieving its goal of a hunger-free community through fresh approaches that center the community’s needs above all else to affect real change.