Hunger-fighting groups try to prevent cuts to California food-bank funding
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Groups working to fight hunger in California are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to protect funding for the CalFood program in his initial budget proposal, which comes out January 10.
CalFood allows food banks to purchase things that are not often donated - such as eggs, milk, produce, meat and cheese - from California farmers.
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Becky Silva, director of government relations for the California Association of Food Banks, said CalFood has enjoyed a temporary boost for the past three years - so, unless the line item is made permanent, funding levels would see a major drop next summer, at the end of the fiscal year.
"So, that means that it'll go from the current approximately $62 million per year down to about $8 million," she said, "and so obviously, food banks are incredibly worried about what that will mean."
She said the food banks are asking for a permanent allocation of $60 million a year in order to avoid big cuts in service. The association estimates that a 1 percent drop in hunger prevents $600 million in health-care costs, while supporting farmers and food producers in the Golden State.
The association represents 41 food banks that served about 6 million people per month in 2023, which is a 20 percent increase, year over year. Silva said hunger levels jumped during the COVID pandemic and have not come back down.
"Food insecurity rates are not decreasing, right? Even though a lot of people think of the pandemic as being over," she said, "the economic impacts are still being felt by people all over the state."
Once the governor releases his blueprint, the Legislature will start negotiations. Lawmakers have until June 15 to produce a final budget.
