CalFresh Outreach Information

Hi everyone, My name is Margarita Ruiz-Lara, but I also respond to Maggie. I am the newly hired Calfresh Outreach and Marketing Program Specialist. I am looking forward to working with our students and staff in an effort to eliminate food insecurities here on campus. 

I am a former student of Cabrillo College, I graduated as a Business Major in the year 2020. While I attended school, I was also a student worker at the office of student equity, so I am familiar with the student population and their need for resources. You might have seen me around campus as I am also employed with facilities as custodian. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to take on this role, as I really enjoy working with others and helping people's lives get easier. Please feel free to refer any students to me, that may benefit from this program. 

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Hunger Free Campus— Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 396, which will help feed thousands of California students currently struggling with hunger and food insecurity. The measure will require public colleges and universities to seek certification from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) so that students enrolled in qualifying employment and training programs will now be able to access federally-funded CalFresh food benefits. "AB 396 will allow us to take advantage of already existing federal dollars to help feed our most vulnerable students and make sure they get the nutrition assistance they so desperately need."

AB 396 will expand access to CalFresh food benefits provided through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Currently, college students are ineligible for these benefits unless they are working at least 20 hours a week or fall within one of several enumerated exemptions. AB 396 focuses on the Employment and Training (E&T) services program exemption, which allows students who participate in qualifying programs such as internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training to claim CalFresh benefits.