Community Action Partnership of Kern’s (CAPK) Food Bank is launching a countywide food-finder platform, Vivery, and expanding its use of client-level data as it prepares for added pressure on Kern County’s charitable food network.
“Finding food shouldn’t mean searching outdated lists, waiting online or driving from location to location hoping assistance is available,” Lowery said. “Vivery will help connect neighbors with the right resources in the right place at the right time.”
CAPK leaders announced the efforts Thursday during a press conference kicking off Hunger Action Month, a September campaign intended to raise awareness of food insecurity and turn that awareness into donations, volunteer work and advocacy.
Kelly Lowery, program administrator for CAPK’s Food Bank, said changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as CalFresh in California, are creating new challenges for families already struggling to make ends meet.
“When families lose access to critical benefits, they don’t simply stop needing food,” Lowery said. “That need starts to show up in other places. It shows up at food pantries, at churches, at community centers, nonprofit organizations and throughout the charitable food system.”
More than 150 churches, nonprofits and community organizations work with CAPK’s Food Bank to distribute food throughout Kern County, including in rural, mountain and desert communities. Some serve hundreds of families each month, while only a handful of volunteers may operate smaller pantries, Lowery said.
That network distributed 22.5 million pounds of food last year. In a typical month, the food bank moves between 1.5 million and 2 million pounds through its partners. Lowery said CAPK plans to source more food in 2027 than ever before, but argued that increasing volume alone will not be enough.
“Our goal isn’t to just do more. Our goal is to do better,” Lowery said.
One part of that strategy is Oasis, a client relationship management system CAPK has deployed across its network of more than 150 partner organizations. Lowery said the food bank invested tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in implementation, training, support and ongoing maintenance.
Food banks have traditionally measured their reach by pounds distributed. Still, Lowery said that figure does not show how frequently individual households seek assistance or where needs are beginning to rise.
“Pounds don’t tell us enough about people,” Lowery said. “Oasis gives us user-level data that will help us understand where people are accessing food, how frequently they need assistance, and where needs are emerging.”
CAPK plans to use that information to “right-size” its resources by sending food to communities based on demonstrated need. The food bank also intends to prioritize distributions that allow people to select items that fit their households, rather than receiving only prepacked boxes.
“Choice is about dignity,” Lowery said, adding that it is also about efficiency. “When people choose the food they need and will actually use, we reduce waste and make limited resources go further.”
The press conference also highlighted private and community partners supporting the food bank. Maybel Lequegan, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente, announced an $80,000 grant to support CAPK’s work to increase access to healthy, nutritious food across Kern County.
“Food insecurity is not just about an empty plate,” Lequegan said. “It’s about health, stability and whether families have the support they need to live well. At Kaiser Permanente, we believe food is health.”
Regal Cinemas Assistant Manager and Brand Ambassador Ken Chilcote presented CAPK with a $1,750 check and said Regal employees have been volunteering at the warehouse nearly every month. Many are high school students and young adults, he said, and the team’s record is 1,000 food boxes packed in three hours – enough to support 1,000 families of four.
Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were also recognized for donating five semi-truckloads of food over the past two years and more than $54,000 in financial support. Bakersfield East Stake President Rick Mayberry said another truck is expected Sept. 3 with bulk foods intended to help communal feeding sites prepare complete meals.
Hunger Action Month events will begin with Hunger Action Day on Sept. 1, followed by a blood drive with Houchin Community Blood Bank on Sept. 4 and a Community Box Building event on September 19.
The campaign will conclude September 29 with the Feed the Need Food Drive at the Kern County Fair. Fairgoers who donate six cans that day will receive free admission. The event collected 22,506 pounds of food last year, according to a Kern County Fair representative. This year’s Feed the Need day will also include a free Chandler Moore concert at the Budweiser Pavilion.
Throughout September, CAPK is asking residents to participate in its Empty Plate Challenge by voluntarily skipping one meal and replacing it with an action – donating the cost of the meal, volunteering, learning more about food insecurity, advocating or encouraging others to participate.
“Hunger Action Month is just that – it’s about action,” Lowery said. “Not just words, not just good feelings, but I’m going to do something.”
More information about Hunger Action Month, its event schedule and ways to participate is available at capkfoundation.org/ham.
