SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento city officials approved the construction of a food kitchen and center run by La Familia Counseling Center as part of the nonprofit's goal to become a "hub" for the South Sacramento community.
La Familia plans proposed building a more-than 25,000 square foot center on a 2.2-acre site along the 5900 block of Franklin Blvd.
The facility will be used as a food storage and distribution center, with other planned on-site services including:
- Training and career center
- Parenting workshops and support group, including school readiness and family-strengthening activities
- Mental health services and satellite health clinic
- Youth programs including homework clubs, Girl Scouts and STEM
La Familia plans for South Sacramento
La Familia Counseling Centers has been established in Sacramento County for more than 50 years providing multicultural counseling and support to low-income youth and families.
Recently, leaders of the nonprofit announced their plans to increase their presence in South Sacramento communities by 2024.
Along with the proposed food kitchen on 5900 Franklin Blvd., La Familia was recently awarded a $5 million California Department of Food and Agriculture grant to establish a new "resiliency hub" in the area.
"More and more we are seeing these climate-related events as well as health events, and we knew during COVID-19 that we needed to have a safe place," said La Familia executive director Rachel Rios on Nov. 7.
The grant will also adapt La Familia's Maple Neighborhood Center and the proposed food kitchen into regional emergency response sites.
La Familia leaders are planning to have both sites become access points for critical services, emergency response activities and even climate-related disasters.
"When disasters and emergencies happen, Californians often look to local community centers for refuge, information, and guidance,” Karen Ross, Secretary California Department of Food and Agriculture. said in a news release. “This grant will strengthen La Familia’s ability to provide shelter and extend services during emergency events, and the improvements will also benefit residents who use the center throughout the year."
The development of La Familia's new food kitchen and community center will create 10 to 15 new jobs in cooperation with the Maple Neighborhood Center.
La Familia says that South Sacramento residents will be welcome to the community center whether to seek refuge from the weather, charge devices or gather as a community.
