BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A new potential state budget poses a drastic cut on grants for California food banks.
“What we’re saying is don’t cut food, especially at this time. It’s so fundamental, everyone needs it and it’s a building block,” Jared Call with the California Association of Food Banks said.
A 90% cut. $80 million to $8 million.
At the state level, the California Association of Food Banks serves 6 million people a month through 43 food banks.
In Kern County, the need for support is even more apparent.
“The reality is that 1 in 5 people here in Kern County are food insecure, and so if it doesn’t affect you, it affects someone close to you,” Kelly Lowery with the Community Action Partnership of Kern Food Bank said.
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CAPK is a local food bank that assists more than 200 food distribution centers in the county.
If the proposed budget is approved, their outreach will look a lot different.
“We wouldn’t reduce any sites, but there would be a lot more empty shelves,” said Lowery.
That would include shelves at Bakersfield College’s food pantries, a service many students rely upon for daily nutrition.
“How can we ask our students to do well in the classroom when their stomachs are grumbling and they’re hungry,” Cesar Jimenez, the vice president of Student Services at Bakersfield College said.
Research shows that 46% of students deal with food insecurity.
Making food pantries, like the ones across Bakersfield college is a necessity, not an option.
“It’s so important that we have access to nutritional food because there is a link between academic success and food security,” Hunter More, the vice president of Student Government at Bakersfield College said.
Bakersfield College’s Renegade Food Pantry serves an average of 8,000 students a month, some juggling other costs at the expense of food.
“Got to have gas in my car to get to college, or even having to weigh that out with textbooks or school supplies,” More said.
The potential cut could look a lot like November 2025 when SNAP benefits were delayed.
“People came to the food banks and lined up at four in the morning and were really worried about where their next meal was coming from, we don’t want to see that happen,” Call said.
A call to stop the cut by contacting local state representatives, but also for support within the community through volunteering and supporting local food banks.
“We really need California to step up, take care of its people and fund food first.”
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