Imagine opening your fridge and finding nothing to feed your family. Now picture a child at the dinner table, unsure if Thanksgiving will happen. That was my reality. My parents worked hard, but some nights we had no food. 

 

One Thanksgiving, we prayed for a meal. Later, a woman from our church arrived with just enough to feed us. Her kindness turned a day of hunger into a day of hope. 

 

That moment stayed with me. It’s why I’m committed to ending food insecurity. I know what it means to be hungry and what it means to be seen and supported. 

 

Kern County is one of the nation’s top agricultural regions, generating over $8.5 billion in output in 2023. Yet despite this abundance, food insecurity remains a harsh reality. Nearly 17 percent of residents, more than 153,000 people, do not always know where their next meal will come from. For children, the numbers are even more alarming: almost 23 percent face food insecurity every single day. 

 

That means if you know five people, chances are one or two are quietly struggling with hunger. They may not show it. They may not speak about it. But food insecurity touches every neighborhood, from our schools and workplaces to our congregations. 

 

As someone who grew up food insecure and now serves as a pastor to those still facing it, I know hunger carries more than physical weight. It brings emotional and spiritual burdens. Families feel invisible. Children lose hope, and worse, feel less valued. Hunger creates barriers to health, opportunity, and dignity across entire communities. 

 

That’s why I serve on the board of the Community Action Partnership of Kern’s (CAPK) Foundation and why I believe so deeply in the work of the CAPK Food Bank. CAPK is Kern County’s official anti-poverty agency, and the Food Bank is one of its most critical programs. 

Last year alone, the Food Bank distributed 22.5 million pounds of food to families in need across Kern County. Its reach extends to every community, including some of the most rural and isolated areas: Kern River Valley, Ridgecrest, California City, Boron, Rosamond, Taft, Maricopa, Buttonwillow, Lost Hills, Arvin, and Lamont. 

 

The Food Bank operates more than 150 distribution sites through partnerships with churches, schools, and other community organizations. It also provides direct home delivery to more than 1,000 homebound seniors each month. In total, more than 5,500 seniors on fixed incomes receive fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, bread, milk, and more from CAPK every single month. 

 

Programs such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Pantry Program, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors help meet essential needs across our community. Additionally, initiatives like Snack Attack and Backpack Buddies for children, along with Free Farmers Markets that include nutrition education, ensure that no one is overlooked. 

 

CAPK is part of the Feeding America network, but much of its food supply comes from local donations, food drives, and volunteers. Every box of food packed, every dollar donated, and every hour volunteered directly translates to meals on the tables of families who otherwise might go without. 

 

The truth is that the need has never been greater. Funding restraints have limited capacity, even as the demand continues to rise. Without consistent community support, the Food Bank cannot meet the full breadth of need across Kern County. That’s why end-of-year giving and volunteerism are so critical. 

 

What drives me personally in this work is both my past and my values. As a child, I was fed by the kindness of others. As an adult, I have seen hunger up close in my church and throughout our community. I also carry with me the words of Jesus in Matthew 25, which guide my life: feed the poor, care for the sick, visit those in need. For me, supporting the Food Bank is not just charity; it’s a lifelong mission rooted in compassion, justice, and responsibility. 

 

While my faith fuels this mission, the call is universal. No one in our community should go hungry. Not when we live in a place of such abundance. Not when generosity is such a defining value of Kern County. 

 

As we move into this season of gratitude, I ask you to consider what meaningful sacrifice you can make for others. For me, it was once as simple as giving a peach pie to someone who was hungry on the side of the road, and yet that small act became a blessing that has stayed with me for years. 

 

The truth is, hunger should not exist at the scale it does in a community with this much food, this much money, and this much faith. Together, we have the power to change this. CAPK’s Food Bank serves every corner of our county, from Ridgecrest to Lamont, but they can’t do it alone. Their resources are limited, and they need our support. Every box of food distributed depends on the generosity of people like you. 

 

Whether it's a $25 donation, a few hours of volunteering, or simply sharing our message, your support directly helps a neighbor in need. This season let’s turn gratitude into action. Let’s make sure every family has the chance to gather around a table with dignity and hope.