[env-trinity] Hoopa Valley Tribe’s relief efforts continue amid grocery crisis

[Tom Stokely]

http://www.times-standard.com/general-news/20160702/hoopa-valley-tribes-relief-efforts-continue-amid-grocery-crisis
Hoopa Valley Tribe’s relief efforts continue amid grocery crisis

By Diover Duario, dduario at times-standard.com, @dioverjd on TwitterSaturday, July 2, 2016More than two weeks after the Hoopa branch of Ray’s Food Place closed its doors to the public, resources continue to pour into the area to aid residents short of nearby grocery store options.“The USDA was able to provide (food) boxes to serve about 290 homes. The number I think is about 1,500 individuals,” Hoopa Office of Emergency Services Director Serene Hayden said. “We’re also working with Humboldt Food for People. They come here on a monthly basis but have since stepped it up to weekly. We’re also coordinating with AmeriCorps, the TCCC (Tribal California Conservation Corps), the local food distribution office, the state OES and Humboldt OES to expedite their services throughout the county level.”Hayden said the lack of a local supermarket affects not only residents of Hoopa but also residents in the surrounding area who relied on the market for their grocery needs.“When the Hoopa Ray’s was open, it didn’t just service Hoopa but also people from Weitchpec, Pecwan and Orleans — all the surrounding community,” Hayden said. The reality of a “food desert” situation in the Hoopa Valley area was exacerbated when the local Ray’s Food Place branch was found to have an overwhelming rat infestation, forcing the county to recommended its closure until the problem was eradicated.Since then, negotiations between the Hoopa Valley Tribe — which owned the building — and C&K Markets which owns Ray’s broke down. The company opted not to continue business in the area.The contract between the tribe and C&K Markets is slated to last until Aug. 1. “We’re trying to find a business that’s willing to work with the tribe,” Tribal Office Administrative Assistant Manuel Sanchez said. “We are in a (food) crisis and it’s all hands on deck.” Sanchez said until a permanent grocery solution can be found, the Hoopa Tribal Office will continue to provide resources and services to residents in need.Shuttle services were offered as early as the first weekend Ray’s decided to close up. Though few residents have utilized the shuttles, Sanchez said it will continue to run in the foreseeable future.“Last weekend we only had five people show up but for a lot of people, their food stamps don’t come until next week. We expect an influx of people then, especially when the first of the month comes around,” Sanchez said. “We want people to know that the tribe is here to help them while we negotiate with stores to bring them in as soon as possible.”The only grocery store within 20 miles of the Hoopa Valley Reservation is the Willow Creek Ray’s Food Place 12 miles down State Route 96. However, many of the residents in Hoopa are reluctant to use the market’s services following the events at the Hoopa branch.“Not everyone feels the same way, but there’s definitely a distrust there,” Hayden said. “Right now, we’re still in the early stages and I’m still putting the numbers together. We’re trying to connect with local farmers as well to find healthier solutions. But right now, a lot of people don’t know what services are being offered. Those who do are very thankful, but one of the biggest things is lack of transportation. We put up a lot of public service announcements, fliers at the post office but people don’t tend to travel that far because a lot of them are just on foot.”Diover Duario can be reached at 707-441-0510.Tom Stokely 
V 530-926-9727 Cell 530-524-0315 tstokely at att.net 
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