Couch's Corner - April 16, 2020

The united effort between the community and county officials to bend the curve and combat COVID-19 continues to make substantial progress. The Board of Supervisors, public health officials, and key county agencies are working around the clock to ensure the Kern County’s Emergency Operations Center functions at full capacity and that key stakeholders are updated on the county’s emergency preparedness.

The EOC is tasked with ensuring local hospitals are preparing for possible surges in patients. Due to the resilience and community engagement displayed by the people of the county to overcome this hurdle, I am confident we will persevere through this pandemic.

To fight this invisible enemy, we must stay home, practice social distancing, and assist our most vulnerable residents in following the guidelines implemented by the California Public Health Department and Center for Disease Control. Please stay at home unless you are going to the store for essential items, remain 6 feet apart from people while in public to promote social distancing, and consistently wash your hands. The Kern County Public Health Department enforces these guidelines at a local level and ensures nonessential businesses are closed and abiding by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20.

Last week, I discussed actions nonprofit organizations and churches are taking to ensure the community receives food and other necessary supplies to assist during this time. Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank supplies over 150 food pantries and distribution sites, including many in District 4, such as the Wasco Griffith Baptist Church, the McFarland Resource Center and Delano Memorial Park.

In addition, First Assembly Church of God in Delano and the Arvin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Arvin City Council Member Olivia Trujillo, are organizing food banks to assist the community avoid food insecurity. Call 2-1-1 or check the website (211kerncounty.org) for a list of food pantries and food distribution events in various communities throughout the district

Food banks continue to update information regarding hours of operation. The following is a list of CAPK food pantries in District 4:

--Buttonwillow Parks and Recreation District, 131 1st St., third Friday of the month, 12-2 p.m.

--Lost Hills Park and Recreation Building, Highway 46 at Los Hills Boulevard, third Friday the month, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

--Shafter CAPK, Shafter Youth Center, 455 Euclid Ave., fourth Thursday of the month, 11 a.m.-noon.

--Wasco Recreation and Parks District, 1280 Poplar Ave., fourth Thursday of the month, 10 a.m.-noon

If you have any questions, our office is working through this crisis, and we can help you get your business with the county moving forward. Just call us at 661-868-3680 or email us at [email protected]. By working together, we will beat this virus and resume our lives. Be safe.

David Couch is a county supervisor in District 4, representing the Shafter-Wasco area.