Assisting and Supporting Families in Need

In California’s Central Valley, where food insecurity affects countless families, Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno is working to ensure neighbors have enough to eat today and access to long-term support systems, including CalFresh. Recognizing that traditional service models don’t always reach those most in need, the team began exploring grassroots, community-centered approaches to outreach.

This vision led to partnerships with local food pantries and community events, including pop-up distributions at neighborhood parks, schools, and churches—spaces where families already feel safe and supported. These events became ideal settings to provide CalFresh information and on-the-spot application assistance in a convenient, compassionate, and stigma-free way.

During one of the first outreach events at a mobile food distribution in southeast Fresno, a mother of three approached the CalFresh table with hesitation. She shared that she had previously tried to apply but had been overwhelmed by the process. With patience and care, a Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno team member sat with her, answering questions and guiding her through the application right there, beside the boxes of produce she was picking up for her family.

Three weeks later, the same mother returned—not for help, but to say thank you. She had been approved for CalFresh and could now consistently put food on the table. Her words of gratitude reminded the team that compassionate, person-to-person outreach can transform lives.

These experiences reinforced the need for flexibility and humility in outreach work. From identifying which locations draw the highest turnout to adjusting for weather and transportation challenges, the Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno team continues to adapt based on community feedback. Every visit becomes an opportunity to build trust, answer questions, and extend dignity through service.

This evolving outreach model is more than a service strategy—it reflects Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno’s commitment to serving the whole person. By bringing CalFresh enrollment into trusted community spaces, the team is not only expanding access to benefits—they are nurturing hope, healing, and long-term stability.