Food bank leaders, community members and local politicians convened an “emergency town hall” Saturday to plan how to support Mendocino County residents amid uncertainty about funding for local food programs.
Claudia Wenning, a local health practitioner who helped lead the town hall at the Little Lake Grange in Willits, spoke about resources available to low-income residents facing food insecurity and answered questions from community members.
Sergio Perez, executive director of Nuestra Alianza de Willits, a nonprofit organization that serves the Latino community, spoke about his organization’s food pantry and how it serves about 70 families a month with nonperishable food items.
In an interview, Perez said that although the pantry is small, it helps support residents who may not be able to afford food for their families on their own.
“We have a food bank that’s an emergency food bank,” Perez added. “Our goal is to be able to provide food for people who need it.”
In addition to food insecurity, town hall speakers discussed services for people experiencing housing instability.
Carolyn Ponikvar, a board member of the Willits Shelter Action Group, explained what services the nonprofit organization offers to those in need of temporary housing.
“We have a motel program that provides homeless people two nights in a hotel that’s paid for, so they can get rest and get clean,” she said.
Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak addressed the importance of the community coming together during times of struggle and uncertainty, especially in the future.
“I think there will be more events because of the cuts of federal social service programs,” Haschak said. “I think our community comes together when trying to fix those problems at a local level. People try to figure out solutions.”
Community members experiencing food insecurity can find a list of food banks and social services at https://mendocinococ.org/community-resources. The Mendocino Voice also has a list of sites distributing free produce at https://mendovoice.com/2025/11/the-ultimate-guide-to-free-and-fresh-produce-in-mendocino-county/.
I think the food banks are great for the people in need, I volunteer at one of them, I don’t think people should be able to go to more than one food bank to get more of the same food, they should only be able to get from one food bank a month , that’s the way it use to be, that way more people in need can get help.