Food Bank Banter by Nicole Ramirez, Director of Programs Food Injustice
With Respect Victoria Bloom (written by her daughter, Lea Ritter)
I am sharing the very sad news that my mother, Victoria Bloom, passed away on March 1st. She died just as she wished — peacefully in her home, surrounded by family and friends. My mom was an active and beloved member of the San Geronimo Valley com- munity for decades. She helped organize the first major remodel of the Forest Knolls Park, worked as a peer resource teacher at Lagunitas School, and was the spirited organizer behind the very first Doggie Olympics. She brought enthusi- asm, humor, and care into everything she did for the community she loved. She was also a longtime practitioner at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a place that meant a great deal to her. During one of the Dalai Lama’s visits, she received a wedding shroud directly from him — something she treasured deeply. John Cook John Phillip Cook (1952–2026) passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026, after a battle with urothelial cancer. A longtime resident of the Bay Area and former San Geronimo Valley community member, John spent over 40 years building a career in environmental and utility management work after earning a degree in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University. He was known for his kindness, easygoing spirit, humor, and deep love for music, gardening, astrono- my, hiking, travel, and gathering with friends and family. John raised his daugh- ter Maralisa in the Valley and later made a loving home in Fairfax with his wife, Jennifer Rienks. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. John is survived by his wife Jennifer, his daughter Maralisa Simmons-Cook (Max Schieble), step- daughters Katherine Wethington and Meghan Rienks, stepson Luke Wethington, his sister Marianne Nelson (Scott), nephews Graham Nelson and Ty Cook, sister-in-law Fran Cook, best friends Greg and Linda Kannall, and, many other close and loving friends. A Celebration of Life will be held on June 6 at 1 PM at Fairfax Community Church. May the four winds blow you safely home. Dane Larsen Dennis Dane Larsen, a longtime Forest Knolls resident, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026, at the age of 75 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Martha Cederstrom, his daughter Sophia Larsen, his brother Eric Larsen (Jill), and nephews Zac and Evan. A graduate of Terra Linda High School, Dane studied architecture at Harvard before earning degrees in ceram- ics and counseling from San Francisco State University. He worked as a ceramics instructor, contractor, designer, counselor, and volunteer with Marin County Search and Rescue, always guided by a deep commitment to helping others. An accomplished endurance athlete, he completed countless trail races including the Dipsea, Western States 100, and Leadville 100, later sharing a love of cycling with Martha and friends throughout Marin. Dane was also a devoted spiritual practitioner, studying Buddhism for decades and maintaining Native ceremonial traditions. Known for his generosity, curiosity, craftsmanship, humor, and love of community, Dane will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, friend, and neighbor who was always ready to lend a hand. A Celebration of Life will be held in June. Suzi Schuenemann Suzi Schuenemann, a longtime Lagunitas resident, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2026, in Sequim, Washington, after a battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with her husband Jim and sister Heidi by her side. She is survived by her husband, her sons Gabriel (Jessica) and Andrew (Jenna), and her four beloved grandchildren, Ethan, Sebastian, Ariya, and Teio. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A more complete remembrance of Suzi’s life will be included in a future issue of Stone Soup . parade, the InSpirit plant sale, and so much more. Many of these traditions have been sustained largely by residents now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Traditions, of course, should evolve. At the same time, they can quietly fade away without enough support to carry them forward. We have already lost the Holly Fair and Halloween on Meadow Way. Many long-time residents would welcome opportunities for younger residents to become involved in these community tradi- tions, helping shape what they become next. So what might our Valley look like ten years from now? Our institutions and tra- ditions will—and should—change, but which ones do we hope to see still thriv- ing? I hope the Valley Emergency Fund continues to support families in need. I hope InSpirit is still growing and selling plants each May. I hope the Two Valleys Community Land Trust continues its work for affordable housing, and that the Planning Group remains a steward of our Valley. I hope Halloween in Woodacre continues, and that our Community Center remains active and vibrant. How might newcomers and long-time residents come together to both sup- port what we have and help it evolve? Change is rarely easy. Perhaps those of us who have been here longer can make room for new ideas and new ways of doing things. Perhaps newer residents might find ways to step in and participate. Perhaps the best place to begin is simply with conversation.
Access to food in California is shifting for many people who depend on CalFresh (SNAP) benefits. Beginning June 1, 2026, California will implement stricter work requirements for adults ages 18–64, along with tightened eligibility requirements for certain immigrants that began on April 1, 2026. These federal changes, driven by H.R. 1, limit benefits for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) to three months within a 36-month period unless they meet work or training requirements. Cuts to these critical programs will affect families and individuals throughout our community and across the state. Mixed-status immigrant families with children may lose access to food benefits. In Marin County, approximately 15,500 residents across 10,000 households rely on CalFresh benefits. During the government shut- down of CalFresh benefits in November 2025, I took an informal poll at our San Geronimo Food Bank and found that roughly 45% of our patrons were impact- ed—approximately 270 individuals. Our patrons include residents from throughout Marin and the Bay Area, includ- ing many immigrants and single adults. Because we only require a ZIP code and family size, the San Geronimo Valley Community Center Food Bank remains highly accessible and well attended, serving an average of 600–700 individuals and approximately 240 households each Thursday from 11 am to 2 pm. Located at the San Geronimo Commons, the site has allowed us to provide much-needed free, nutritious food in a welcoming environment. We also host a Food Bank at the Community Center every Monday from 10 am to 1 pm. Food is a basic human right, and when access to it is denied, it strikes at the core of our humanity. The recent changes to food benefits will make access to food even more difficult for many of our patrons. Our drive-up Food Bank has also seen a recent decline in participation, which we believe may be tied to the ris- ing cost of gasoline. Patrons traveling from East Marin or farther West Marin are forced to make difficult decisions between saving gas money and accessing free food that could help offset other living expenses. These challenges make it increasingly difficult for low-income families, individu- als, and seniors to survive—let alone thrive—in Marin County. We remain committed to providing high-quality food bank services and ensur- ing dignified access to food for all patrons and volunteers. In partnership with the Marin Community Foundation, the County of Marin, SF Marin Food Bank, and Community Action Marin, our Community Resilience Teams (CRT) are help- ing distribute physical and virtual grocery cards to nearly 1,700 Marin residents impacted by recent changes in food assistance programs. This collaborative effort will provide up to $600 in flexible, tapered support to help ensure families con- tinue to have reliable access to food without experiencing an abrupt interruption
in assistance. To understand if you’re affected visit ben- efitscal.com. As always, we welcome donations of excess local har- vests of fruits and vegetables, canned goods, nonperishable food items, and monetary contributions. :)
Valley Changes by John Gunnarson
The Valley is evolving. Many of us moved here decades ago because it was a beau- tiful place to live, housing was relatively affordable, alternative thinking was wel- comed, and it offered a home for artists, musicians, craftspeople, educators, and the self-employed. Over time, things have changed. Rents and real estate are no longer affordable for many. Baby boomers are beginning to sell their properties, and new families are moving in. New residents come to the Valley for many of the same reasons earlier generations did: the natural beauty, a slower pace of life, a touch of bohemian spirit, and a strong sense of community. I believe that these values are widely shared by both long-time residents and newcomers. As someone who has lived in the Valley for 45 years, that sense of community has been especially important to me. I cherish the Holiday Fair and Kate’s Café at our Community Center, Halloween in Woodacre, pop-up concerts on Railroad, the Lagunitas Community School, the St. Cecilia’s rummage sale, the Fourth of July
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