Jenni Dye on the Impact of Food Assistance Programs like Market Match
“Food is a universal language that brings people from all walks of life together.”Kate Jacobs, Comfort Food
Last month we learned that Market Match, a program helping CalFresh recipients stretch their EBT dollars to buy local fruits and vegetables, would be spared from proposed budget cuts by the State of California. This decision ensures continued support for those who rely on it through 2027. On the heels of this win for food access and assistance programs, our local Market Match team at Center for Healthy Communities had the privilege of reconnecting with an old friend who shared a story which greatly puts the State’s budget decision and the impact of our own advocacy work into perspective.
Reconnecting With a Recipient
We first met this individual, then a caregiver for his aging mother, five years ago when he had stopped by our CalFresh Healthy Living booth at the local Farmers Market. He and I got to talking about the program and his family’s situation and realized that his household might qualify for CalFresh benefits, some of which are specifically tailored for our senior population. Initially hesitant, he eventually agreed to apply with our assistance.
“We came to the Farmers Market and saw someone that was giving coupons (Senior Farmers Market Program) and they asked me a few questions. It made me realize my mom might be eligible for the program. I scheduled an appointment then but missed it due to doctors’ appointments. A gentleman called after missing the appointment twice, and like they say ‘the third time’s the charm.’ He accommodated us and set us up with an appointment and that’s how we got my mom to apply for CalFresh.”
They did in fact qualify for both CalFresh and subsequently the Market Match program, allowing them to regularly visit and support the local farmers markets while having access to healthy and locally grown produce. Without Market Match and CalFresh benefits in general he told us his mom could not have afforded this.
“Ever since she had her stroke, she couldn’t use her dentures and hadn’t been able to cook and eat normally. I would buy a lot of vegetables to make her soup to accommodate. I wanted to make her things that are traditional (for their family and culture). She was quite the popular cook back home.”
When asked about how their health had changed since receiving assistance he did note positive changes while also reminding us of the often unspoken benefits these programs support in the lives of recipients. These include the opportunity to connect with the community each week at local markets and to be able to have access to ingredients specific to their culture and traditions.
“These (farmers/vendors) are the type of people my mom used to work with. We used to be a vendor back home and grew up on a farm. We value the products here. Mentally, it is rewarding to come here by itself. This has a positive mental effect because I get to remember my younger years. There’s also a difference when you consume healthy food compared to junk food.”
He recently shared with our team that his mother passed away and he was thankful for our programs and the positive impact they had had on his family. As part of his grieving process, he felt moved to make us a plate of his culture’s food to show his appreciation for our work in connecting them with these resources, and subsequently their community.
I don’t know that I have ever felt an individual’s appreciation for our work in this way, and his gesture of gratitude was a great reminder that at times we may only think about doing what we consider ‘our job’ – making a small difference in an individual’s life by providing access to more food. His words and story reminded me that what feels like a small act to one person could be a huge life-changer for that individual receiving it. Yet programs such as these routinely face budget challenges and threats.
A Meaningful Win for Food Access and Assistance
I am thankful that I work on teams that provide individuals with the tools to access the foods that are culturally appropriate for them and nourish them. And I am thankful to the State of California and all of those involved including Market Match Consortium members, Ecology Center, the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets and to those who continue to advocate for individuals such as this man and his mother to continue to receive such important benefits.
I think that Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Majority Speaker of the California Assembly, captured much of my feelings about the program when she said, “ this program hits every single mark and I am proud to support keeping in on track! It offers healthier food to our seniors and children and families, and also supports our family farms. Its these types of programs that work because they foster partnerships that provide meaningful results!”
I hope in the future California and national decision-makers can start making programs like Market Match permanent so that community members have constant access to a most basic need; food.
About the Author: Jenni Dye is a Project Director who has worked at Center for Healthy Communities since 2006. As a Registered Dietitian and Chico State Alumni, she holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nutrition science. Jenni’s background is in farming, school/community-based nutrition education, community food systems, food security and food safety. Her current work focuses on actively engaging with local collaboratives to provide sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption to enhance the environmental, economic, and nutritional health of our region.
