Carson Mayor Pro Tem Cedric L. Hicks Sr.

Carson, CA — For Carson Mayor Pro Tem Cedric L. Hicks Sr., Friday’s free food distribution at Calas Park is about more than handing out bags of fruits and vegetables.

It is part of a broader effort to make sure Carson families have access to nutritious food — without having to explain their financial circumstances or overcome the stigma that can come with asking for help.

Hicks, who represents District 3, said food access has remained a concern in portions of his district, particularly around the Lincoln Village and Presidential Tract neighborhoods, where a local market closed nearly a decade ago and has never been replaced.

“One of the main reasons why I wanted to bring this food program to the City of Carson is because we have different pockets in our community that are food deserts,” Hicks said in an interview with The Carson Compass.

Residents in that area have asked for a farmers’ market, Hicks said, and while efforts toward that goal continue, he views regular fresh-food distributions as an immediate way to bring fruits and vegetables directly into the neighborhood.

The Free Food Giveaway, presented by Hicks in partnership with the City of Carson and Venice Family Clinic, will take place Friday, Aug. 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Calas Park, 1000 E. 220th Street.

Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, with Carson residents receiving priority.

Hicks said his approach to food assistance has been shaped by years of watching families quietly struggle.

“People always have issues with food. They may not tell you they have issues with food because it’s so embarrassing to say, ‘I can’t afford to feed my family,’” Hicks said. “As opposed to having to always explain why you don’t have it, let me get it to you.”

He said he deliberately avoids income qualifications and assumptions about who may or may not need help.

Some residents arrive at distributions driving newer or more expensive vehicles, he noted, but that does not necessarily reflect what is happening inside a household.

“I’m not going to judge you based upon what kind of car you drive,” Hicks said. “Everyone has needs.”

That philosophy has followed Hicks through nearly four decades of community service. Before serving on the City Council, he said he helped establish a free summer lunch program while working in community services after recognizing that children who depended on free meals during the school year could still face hunger once classes ended.

“The kids were coming to the park during the summer [and] did not have lunch,” Hicks recalled. “If they wanted the free lunch program in school, what do you think is going to happen in the summer? They’re still not going to have lunch.”

Hicks said the increasing cost of basic necessities has made food assistance even more important.

Residents, he said, are often being forced to decide which household expenses can wait.

“Do I put gas in my car, or do I go and buy some food?” Hicks said. “Do I buy a loaf of bread, or do I go and try to put something on my electricity bill?”

For households surviving on one income, he said, those choices can become especially difficult.

“People are making hard decisions at this point in time,” Hicks said. “Whatever I can do to provide government resources or nonprofit organizations who are willing to give something back to the community, I’m going to tap into that resource and make sure it’s available to my Carson residents.”

Hicks said his relationship with Venice Family Clinic grew after he learned the organization offered services beyond traditional medical care.

Venice Family Clinic operates a health center at Carson High School and has long provided health services within the community. Hicks said he became more familiar with the organization while reviewing its participation in Community Development Block Grant funding.

“I said, ‘Wait a minute, what else do you guys provide?’” Hicks recalled.

That conversation led him to learn more about the clinic’s fresh produce distributions, immunizations and other health services.

Hicks said he began partnering with Venice Family Clinic approximately four years ago and has worked to rotate food distributions among parks in District 3 so residents can access assistance close to home.

“Most people don’t like to go into another person’s neighborhood,” Hicks said. “So I bring it to their neighborhood, to their woods, to make sure they can have access to what is needed for their community and families.”

Although turkey, toy and holiday giveaways are common throughout the region, Hicks said food insecurity does not operate on a holiday calendar.

He would like to see fresh food distributions expanded throughout Carson and hopes to identify additional partners capable of helping meet the need.

“I don’t want to do just a turkey giveaway,” Hicks said. “This is ongoing annually. This is not something we just do at the holiday season.”

His message was simple: “People are hungry every month, not just Thanksgiving.”

Hicks acknowledged that nonprofit organizations are also confronting financial and staffing challenges, making some partnerships more difficult to sustain. He said those limitations have pushed him to continue searching for additional organizations that may be able to provide fresh fruits, vegetables and other resources to Carson residents.

Hicks also encouraged residents who are struggling with other needs to contact the City rather than assuming help is unavailable.

He pointed to resources available through Carson’s human services and community services departments, as well as partnerships with organizations outside of the city that still serve Carson residents.

Among those is Neighborhood Housing Services, which Hicks said can assist with housing-related concerns, homelessness resources and programs for seniors, including potential grant assistance for necessary home repairs.

“Don’t always think that because it’s in another city, it will not provide services to you here,” Hicks said.

Residents can call the City of Carson at 310-830-7600 and ask to be connected with the appropriate department to learn what assistance may be available.

For Hicks, connecting people with those resources is an extension of a philosophy that has guided his public service for decades.

“To me, it fills my heart, and it’s a blessing that I’m able to do it for others,” Hicks said. “I think the Lord has blessed me so much with my life, my family and the ability to do what I do right now.”

The Aug. 28 food giveaway will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at Calas Park, 1000 E. 220th Street in Carson. Fresh fruits, vegetables and other food items will be distributed while supplies last.

The effort carries a message that reflects the partnership behind the event: “Stronger Together. Healthier Together. Carson Together.”