Mario's Mission: CalFresh Healthy Living’s Impact on CHIP Communities
As the sun shines above the trees at Brickyard Creek Apartments in Red Bluff, Mario Monroy-Olivas strolls through the complex on his way to the community room. Children on bikes circle him with playful grins, waving as they pass. A senior resident stops him to chat about meals for his young niece. Another calls out affectionately, “¡El Príncipe!”—the Prince. It’s not just a nickname. It’s a reflection of the trust and warmth Mario has cultivated in this community over the past three years.
“At a CHIP property, I’m able to create deeper, longer relationships where every conversation can strengthen ties and reinforce healthy habits,” Mario shares.
Mario is a Community Education Specialist from CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE (CFHL, UCCE), working alongside CHIP’s Resident Services Department. But to call him just a nutrition educator would be missing the heart of his work. Mario is a connector, a guide, and a storyteller—using food as his language.
A Recipe for Empowerment
Mario’s lessons go far beyond food facts. He brings together nutrition, gardening, and youth engagement to create a holistic approach to health. Whether he’s teaching a family how to prepare a balanced meal or helping a toddler identify food colors, Mario’s work is rooted in peer-reviewed research and delivered with heart.
In one standout lesson, Mario invited teens to immerse themselves in a single recipe. First, they reflected on how it made them feel, what emotions it stirred. Then they cooked it, improved it, and finally taught their version to others. It wasn’t just about food. It was about cultivating confidence, creativity, and leadership.
Growing Together
Across Shasta, Trinity, and Tehama counties, Mario trains “extenders”—teachers, parents, and volunteers—to carry forward the lessons he shares. This ripple effect ensures that healthy habits take root and grow long after a single session ends.
At CHIP properties, Mario often leads family-centered lessons where adults act as guides and children as helpers. Even kids as young as two get involved, learning about food groups through stories and games. These sessions spark conversations, laughter, and deeper emotional bonds.
“We’re shifting cultural norms,” Mario says. “Getting kids to realize their food choices at a younger age will lead to a healthier, longer life. The biggest win is to get the youth to become conscious about their health. We aim for it to become second nature.”
Cultivating a Healthier Ecosystem, Honoring a Lasting Legacy
CHIP is proud to be part of the rich ecosystem of organizations and community resources in our service area. Affordable housing is more than shelter. We're invested in creating happier, healthier communities where families can truly thrive. That’s why we go beyond bricks and mortar—by connecting residents with tools that empower lasting change. One of our most impactful partnerships is with the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE program, which brings vital nutrition education directly to our communities.
For more than 25 years, this work has been made possible through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), a cornerstone of public health outreach that has helped transform lives—stories like Mario’s are a testament to its success. But on July 4, 2025, the landscape shifted dramatically. With the signing of the reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), sweeping cuts to social services were enacted, including the complete elimination of SNAP-Ed funding.
With the federal government discontinuing SNAP-Ed funding, the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE program will officially end, effective September 30, 2025.
Mario sees CHIP and CalFresh as essential threads in the safety net of our region.
“Resources like CHIP and CalFresh, and so many other amazing organizations, create ripple effects on our communities. These collaborative efforts are important: we have to best utilize our funds and time to serve our communities. When pieces are missing, people—especially vulnerable kids—slip through the cracks.”
Through his work, Mario Monroy-Olivas is not just teaching nutrition—he’s nurtured a movement across generations and households. One recipe, one conversation, one community at a time.
As we prepare to close this chapter, we honor the legacy of SNAP-Ed and the countless lives it has touched. The seeds planted will continue to grow.
