When federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits were suddenly interrupted on November 1, many families in our region were left wondering how they would put food on the table. Local food banks and pantries, already serving record numbers, are now facing even more demand.
To help, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation has activated the Sacramento Region Emergency Relief Fund and, with an additional investment from Health Net, has provided $130,000 in immediate grants to food assistance providers in the region.
“This is the right investment to make at this moment,” shares Kerry Wood, the Foundation’s chief executive. “With the Foundation’s focus on health equity and the dire food situation faced by hundreds of thousands of local families, we are committed to standing with our nonprofit partners on the frontlines of hunger relief.”
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Local donors helped establish the Sacramento Region Emergency Relief Fund in 2005 to provide swift and strategic responses to local emergencies. Over the past twenty years, the fund has granted emergency support to various community wide concerns including COVID response, wildfires, and other natural and man-made catastrophes in the Sacramento region.
This one-time grant to address the SNAP funding gap continues that legacy of responsiveness. “Our region’s families can’t wait for long-term solutions when the need is immediate,” Wood explains. “This grant will help ensure that local food banks can keep their shelves stocked and their doors open to anyone in need.”
Who This Grant Will Help
The grant will go to local food banks and pantries that provide nutritious meals for children, seniors, and working families. Many of these organizations report sharp increases in food requests as the cost of living continues to rise. The loss of SNAP benefits makes it even harder for families already choosing between groceries, rent, and healthcare.
The six organizations receiving immediate emergency funding from this grant include the following: Elk Grove Food Bank Services, Orangevale-Fair Oaks Food Bank, Rancho Cordova Food Locker, River City Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, and Twin Lakes Food Bank.
This emergency support complements our ongoing efforts to strengthen the region’s food system for the long haul. Earlier this year, we committed $1 million over three years to support short- and long-term solutions to address food insecurity in Yolo County.
How You Can Help
We invite you to join this effort. Contributions of any amount to the Sacramento Region Emergency Relief Fund will expand the impact of this grant and directly support local hunger relief efforts.
Foundation Donor Advised Fundholders may recommend a grant to the Sacramento Region Emergency Relief Fund through the Donor Portal, and community members can make a donation online to the Fund or to the food banks serving your community to help ensure that no one in our region goes hungry.
As always, the Foundation’s Philanthropy Team is available to answer questions or assist with grant recommendations.
While food insecurity can’t be solved by philanthropy alone, it can help raise the visibility of the issue and help others learn how to take action. Plus, in moments of crisis, collective generosity can make a world of difference. Together, we can ensure that our region’s families have the food and support they need to weather this challenge and reaffirm our shared commitment to a healthier, more equitable Sacramento region.
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