October 2022

To read this newsletter in Spanish, please click here.

Dear Emmanuel,

We're fully into the fall season. Theoretically, the weather gets cooler, although dry days, Santa Ana winds, and the threat of fires in our hillsides make the crisp days seem rare. Halloween is around the corner, and before we know it, we'll be back into the rush of the holiday season. Fall is a season for doing more and being pulled in numerous directions, especially for parents who coordinate school schedules too.

Fall is also a time for CAVC to do more, too. In fact, we've spent the entirety of 2022 doing more to connect with our communities, serve those most in need, and prepare our staff to meet the challenges they face. You'll read about all of those and more in this newsletter, including how our Food Program has become crucial for families across Ventura County, about our recent visits to community events, and about an active shooter training we undertook as CAVC staff. 

We also have an exciting event and a very important fundraising campaign coming soon that we cannot wait to share with you. Keep an eye out in your inboxes for more information!

I wish you and your loved ones continued good health and safety.



Susy Lopez-Garcia

Executive Director

Community Action of Ventura County

CAVC and the National Community Action Partnership were proud to participate in the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28th. The Biden-Harris Aasdministration released its National Strategy, an action plan to combat hunger and food insecurity across the United States with the support of the National Community Action Partnership and organizations like CAVC.

We're proud to do our part in combatting hunger in Ventura County. Our Food Program rescued over 370,500 pounds of fresh produce from being wasted in landfills in 2021 thanks to our partnerships with Cal Recycle, FoodForward, FoodShare, and many other local food hub partners across the county. Our weekly drive-through food distribution program regularly serves over 350 households and provides them with fresh groceries.

Our Food Program is one of Ventura County's most critical programs to support struggling community members.

Another month means more opportunities to go out and meet with community members like you! Last month, our staff visited United Parents at their open house at their new headquarters in Camarillo. United Parents' mission is to care for and support parents who have children with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. United Parents has served Ventura County for over 30 years, and they are a valued partner in our work to uplift families and households across Ventura County.

We also had an opportunity to host a booth at the Port of Hueneme Banana Festival on September 24th. This great community event hosted by the Port of Hueneme saw over 10,000 folks attend and learn about the Port of Hueneme, enjoy free games and live music, and shop from local vendors. We were there alongside other community organizations sharing resources about our programs and how we're uplifting families across Ventura County. We always have a great time meeting community members like you!

We are so proud to share news that our Executive Director, Susy Lopez-Garcia, was selected as a recipient of a Latino Leadership Award by El Concilio Family Services at their 32nd annual Latino Leadership Awards banquet on September 28th. 

Susy and 6 other awardees were selected for their contributions to improving the quality of life for Latinos across Ventura County. The contributions of awardees coincide with El Concilio's mission to provide direct services to underserved Latino communities.

The theme for the award celebration was "Together We Thrive - Juntos Prosperamos" - and CAVC continues to thrive under Susy's leadership. We are thrilled her hard work has been recognized and we congratulate her on this remarkable achievement!

Save the date for our fall event!

We'll be hosting a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, November 9th, at our campus about the important issues facing Ventura County communities and how we can do our part to help.

More information about this important event will be forthcoming, so keep an eye out to learn more and get involved!

The CAVC Board of Directors advances our mission across Ventura County as a collective of like-minded individuals across private and public sectors who are committed to strengthening pathways out of poverty in all of our communities.

This month, in a slight detour from our normal introduction to Board members, we're using this space to thank Sabrena Rodriguez for her service to CAVC. Sabrena's time with the Board is coming to an end as she takes on leadership roles with the California School Board Association. We will certainly miss her leadership and energy! 

Sabrena has been a valued member of our Board of Directors, and we know she will continue to champion the communities we serve most across Ventura County. Thank you for your service, Sabrena!

Our Vision:

We envision a community successfully lifting people out of poverty.

Our Mission:

Helping our community establish pathways out of poverty through advocacy, partnerships and services that promote dignity

and self- sufficiency.