MOORPARK : Feud Leads to Spat Over Surplus Food

A feud between two Moorpark senior citizens groups erupted into a tussle between two members during a giveaway of government food surpluses this week.

“It was a mess,” said Vina Milburn, one of the people involved in the tussle.

The trouble arose when Annabelle Sessler, who is in charge of distributing food from the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s surplus program in Moorpark, refused to give commodities to two elderly women who qualify for the program, said Jewel Pedi, executive director of Oxnard-based Food Share Inc.

Before the incident ended, Sessler and Milburn had physically tussled over a bag of food, which tore, and a box of food.

Sessler is head of a new group called Moorpark Active Seniors, which was formed in opposition to Moorpark Senior Citizens Inc., the city’s official senior association. Milburn is a board member of Moorpark Senior Citizens Inc.

Milburn was at the city’s senior center when two women told her that they had been turned down for food at the giveaway, being held next door at the community center, Milburn said.

Milburn said she accompanied one of the women back to the community center. When Sessler still refused to give the woman a bag of food, Milburn said she picked up a bag containing flour and cheese. As she started to leave, Sessler grabbed the bag, which broke, Milburn said.

Milburn then grabbed a box of food sitting near the door on her way out. But Sessler grabbed that from her, Milburn said.

Sessler would not comment on the incident, except to say that it arose from a misunderstanding.

The women Sessler had turned away are signed up for another Food Share program, called the Brown Bag program, which starts next month, Pedi said. Brown Bag participants are not allowed to get food from the surplus distribution, Pedi said.

But Pedi said Sessler did not understand that Brown Bag participants should get food surpluses until the new program starts in November.

Moorpark Senior Citizens Inc. will administer the Brown Bag program.