When Yolo Food Bank asked its partner agencies — community food pantries, hot meal providers, and more — what would help them serve more families, the answer was surprisingly simple. Seventy-one percent said they could reach more people with just a little additional food purchasing power, even as little as $275 per month.
For us at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, that insight revealed a clear opportunity to act in alignment with our commitment to address hunger in Yolo County. In response, the Foundation funded $150,000 to extend supplementary purchasing power to each partner agency at Yolo Food Bank’s partner agency store and stock additional items with a grant from our Impact Fund, expanding agencies’ ability to source the foods their communities need most.
Research in 2023 showed that 29% of Yolo County households were experiencing food insecurity, and one in six residents were not accessing the charitable food system because available foods did not align with their needs. The Foundation then funded research in partnership with Yolo Food Bank and UC Davis to see how this issue could be addressed.
Survey results from Yolo Food Bank’s over 45 partner agencies were clear and actionable. Agencies identified protein, rice, and spices as top food priorities, essential staples that allow families to prepare culturally relevant, nourishing meals.
In stewarding this work through my role at the Foundation, what stands out most to me is how small investments can unlock meaningful expansion and strengthen the food system. By providing agencies with added purchasing power where they already source food, we increase their responsiveness and flexibility. They can choose what best fits their communities, when it’s needed most.
Just a few weeks after making the purchasing credits available, Yolo Food Bank reported nearly a 50% increase in partner purchases at the store. With the funding provided by the Foundation, they’ve also been able to stock more of the items agencies identified as priorities, including protein such as beans and chicken, along with seasonings and spices. Plus, as partners continue sharing feedback, Yolo Food Bank plans to expand inventory to reflect additional wish-list items in the months ahead.
Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge in Yolo County. But when we pair research with action, deploy the community’s philanthropic resources in ways that strengthen capacity, and trust local partners to lead, we move closer to a food system that nourishes every neighbor with dignity and care.
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