High gas prices, inflation and rising food costs are making it harder for millions of Californians to feed their families, according to new research released this week.More than 450 anti-hunger advocates are gathering in downtown Sacramento for the Food ACCESS Conference to discuss solutions to food insecurity across the state.The California Association of Food Banks is unveiling a new county-by-county dashboard that estimates nearly 16 million people in California, which is about 40% of the state, cannot afford the basic cost of living, including food.Advocates said food banks are facing increased demand at the same time they are losing critical funding. They point to proposed federal SNAP, known as CalFresh in California, cuts and a major reduction in USDA emergency food assistance as concerns that could impact even more families.Food banks said they are now helping more people, including families with higher incomes who are still struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries and other basic needs.Jared Call, director of public policy and advocacy for the California Association of Food Banks, said, “We have some new data that was provided to us through Urban Institute that really shines a light on how the high cost of living in California is impacting people’s ability to afford their basic needs like food. About one in four Californians deals with food insecurity, and that number goes up to one in three for households with children. But we see this even among higher or more moderate-income levels. A family of four who’s making $132,000 per year; nine percent of those families are reporting food insecurity. Those are just the people who may be turning to food banks for the first time as we see.”Advocates are calling on state lawmakers to provide additional funding to help food banks keep up with demand. This month, they are requesting $110 million instead of $80 million.”The cost of food, the cost of gas, the cost of rent, everything rising, and salaries and wages not keeping up. We’re going to see a lot of new people and first-time people at food banks for the first time,” said Call.The Food ACCESS Conference continues through Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento.Officials said people who want to help should volunteer their time consider donating money to their local food bank. They said monetary donations allow food banks to buy in bulk and stretch resources further.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
High gas prices, inflation and rising food costs are making it harder for millions of Californians to feed their families, according to new research released this week.
More than 450 anti-hunger advocates are gathering in downtown Sacramento for the Food ACCESS Conference to discuss solutions to food insecurity across the state.
The California Association of Food Banks is unveiling a new county-by-county dashboard that estimates nearly 16 million people in California, which is about 40% of the state, cannot afford the basic cost of living, including food.
Advocates said food banks are facing increased demand at the same time they are losing critical funding. They point to proposed federal SNAP, known as CalFresh in California, cuts and a major reduction in USDA emergency food assistance as concerns that could impact even more families.
Food banks said they are now helping more people, including families with higher incomes who are still struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries and other basic needs.
Jared Call, director of public policy and advocacy for the California Association of Food Banks, said, “We have some new data that was provided to us through Urban Institute that really shines a light on how the high cost of living in California is impacting people’s ability to afford their basic needs like food. About one in four Californians deals with food insecurity, and that number goes up to one in three for households with children. But we see this even among higher or more moderate-income levels. A family of four who’s making $132,000 per year; nine percent of those families are reporting food insecurity. Those are just the people who may be turning to food banks for the first time as we see.”
Advocates are calling on state lawmakers to provide additional funding to help food banks keep up with demand. This month, they are requesting $110 million instead of $80 million.
“The cost of food, the cost of gas, the cost of rent, everything rising, and salaries and wages not keeping up. We’re going to see a lot of new people and first-time people at food banks for the first time,” said Call.
The Food ACCESS Conference continues through Tuesday afternoon in Sacramento.
Officials said people who want to help should volunteer their time consider donating money to their local food bank. They said monetary donations allow food banks to buy in bulk and stretch resources further.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google