Hispanic Heritage Month 2023: Working with Universidad Popular to Support the Hispanic Community in Pauma Valley

Published On: September 14th, 2023By Categories: Partnerships4 min read

The drive along Highway 76 to the Pauma Valley Community Center is picturesque. Fruit trees dot the hills. Signs advertise freshly picked produce and local honey. The sight as you arrive at the center is a bit different. A line of waiting cars winds around the driveway and extends into the road. At the center is a bright orange Feeding San Diego truck with the back door open in front of a row of tables. The volunteers from Feeding San Diego and its partner, Universidad Popular, quickly load fruits, vegetables, and shelf-stable items into the waiting cars. Spanish fills the air as volunteers chat with waiting community members. Every Tuesday, Feeding San Diego and Universidad Popular partner to serve the farmworker community of Pauma Valley. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we spoke to Francisco Ramirez, one of the community educators of Universidad Popular, about how critical the partnership is for people living in and around the valley.

A man wearing a pink reflective vest stands in front of an orange truck with the Feeding San Diego logo on it

Francisco Ramirez, a community educator for Universidad Popular

A Food Desert Surrounded by Farmland

The San Luis Rey River flows through Pauma Valley, making it a perfect area for growing food. As we spoke with Francisco, he pointed out the many citrus and avocado trees behind the community center. With so much food directly in sight, it’s hard to believe so many are waiting in line to receive food assistance.

“The majority of the people that work and live here in Pauma are farm workers,” Francisco explained. “You would think that because it’s a farmworker community, you would be able to have access to food. But it’s not. First, the food goes to the supermarkets or other big companies, and then it comes back, but at a higher price. There’s no big supermarkets here in the area. You have to drive 30 to 45 minutes to the nearest town to find the big supermarkets. So basically, you only have small markets here or liquor stores. Other than that, there’s not really other stores that sell fresh food. And if they do, the prices are super high compared to stores in the cities.”

According to the County, about 25% of all census tracts in San Diego County are food deserts. These areas have limited access to affordable and nutritious food. In Pauma, this issue stands out starkly on the backdrop of food just out of reach.

Relieving the Pressure for Families in Need

The distribution begins as soon as the volunteers finish setting up the pantry. Volunteers cheerfully greet the mostly Spanish-speaking attendees, ask for the number of people in their household, and fill their cars with food. People from all over the valley have been lined up since before the distribution opened.

“We have people waiting in line for over two hours,” Francisco told us. “Waiting for the food for that time, you can tell it’s very needed. Tuesday after Tuesday, they continue to come and wait in line. They’re happy to receive the food. But more than that, they trust us. Feeding San Diego and Universidad Popular has created a connection with the community that is more than just bringing food to them. We’re like friends and neighbors helping each other.”

In less than two hours, the volunteers will provide food to over 260 households. One of those households is Georgina’s. With two adults and three children to feed, Georgina relies on the Pauma Valley mobile pantry to keep things running.

A woman holds a boy on her hip and stands next to another woman in front of a Feeding San Diego orange truck

Georgina (center) with her sister, Concepción, and two-year-old son, Jayden

“Right now, the cost of food is very high,” Georgina explained. “It’s very expensive at the store. You go to the supermarket, and you pay $300 or $400 and barely get anything. Coming here helps. The fruits and vegetables are our favorite. But we like everything they give. I have kids, and they enjoy the food. This helps my family a lot. Rice is essential, beans, everything that we get is something we eat every day.”

Honoring the Helpers During Hispanic Heritage Month

Universidad Popular is a grassroots community-based organization that aims to provide a space for Latino and Latina immigrants to convene and learn. Every Tuesday, they work with Feeding San Diego to distribute no-cost groceries at the Pauma Valley Community Center. At Feeding San Diego, we recognize that hunger disproportionately affects communities of color and rural communities. In San Diego County, the food insecurity rate for Latinos is 13%, while the rate for white, non-Hispanic households is just 6%. We’re proud to partner with organizations like Universidad Popular, formed within the community and dedicated to raising their neighbors up. Donate or volunteer today to support these partnerships.