As state budget talks ramp up at the Capitol, advocates and Bakersfield College leaders are urging lawmakers to fully fund the CalFood Program, warning that rising costs and looming federal benefit cuts could push more Californians into food insecurity and increase demand at local food pantries.
Jared Call, director of public policy and advocacy for the California Association of Food Banks, said the state’s food bank network is facing what he called “a perfect storm of hunger and hardship.” Call said food banks have already been hit by federal cuts over the past year to a federal commodities program that provides food to food banks, while rising food and transportation costs are putting additional pressure on household budgets.
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Call also pointed to upcoming federal changes to CalFresh, known federally as SNAP, describing it as “our first line of defense against hunger in our state.” He said CalFresh currently serves more than 5 million people in California each month and that federal changes tied to the “The Big Beautiful Bill that was passed last July” will subject more than 1 million Californians to new rules and restrictions. Call said the expectation is that about three-quarters of those affected will be cut from the program over the next year, totaling about three-quarters of a million people losing food assistance.
Call said those residents are expected to turn to food banks and food pantries, including Renegade Food Pantry at Bakersfield College, increasing the need for state support. He said the CalFood Program is the most important state program for food banks because it allows them to purchase fresh California-produced foods,
The food bank network is currently serving 6 million people per month statewide, up from 4.5 million during the height of the pandemic. Call criticized the governor’s January initial budget proposal for including $8 million for CalFood, which he said is a 90% cut from what the network received last year.
Call said advocates are asking the Legislature and the governor’s office to increase ongoing CalFood funding to $60 million, which he said would allow food banks to continue serving the 6 million people they are currently reaching. He also called for an additional $50 million in one-time support to address the surge in need expected from CalFresh cuts.
The remarks were delivered at Bakersfield College’s Renegade Pantry, where campus leaders said supports thousands of students and families in Bakersfield. CesarJimenez, vice president of student services at Bakersfield College, said food insecurity affects students’ ability to succeed academically and said the pantry helps address that need by providing access to food.
“How do we ask our students to do well academically when they’re hungry? Jimenez said, bringing a call to action. He also highlighted the BC’s partnership with CAPK.
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For Community Action Partnership Kern Food Bank (CAPK), distributed 22.4 million pounds of food across Kern County in 2025, providing 18.67 million meals and averaging service to 50,000 families monthly.
Jimenez said Bakersfield College has more than 40,000 students and that, depending on the month, the college serves between 7,000 and 10,000 students who access the pantry. He said the college also operates pantries at satellite sites, including Arvin, BC Southwest and Delano. Jimenez also said 46% of Bakersfield College students are experiencing food insecurity.
And went it comes to how community can help support those facing food insecurity, they are encouraged to reach out to legislatures and ask for Cal Food to be funded. Jimenez also said donations of all kinds are accepted at the BC’s food pantry.