At the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Foundation, we define health equity as a fair and just opportunity for everyone to attain the highest level of health and well-being. Too often, inequities tied to race, income, geographic location, and historical barriers result in unequal health outcomes, preventing our region from being as vibrant and thriving as it can be.
This is why we’ve chosen to focus our unrestricted grantmaking and programmatic work on health equity — it aligns with our mission, addresses a critical community need, and reflects our commitment to tackling the challenges identified by our region. By concentrating investments in places with the greatest inequities, particularly in Sacramento and Yolo counties, we believe we can make the most meaningful impact.
Monica with the team from Meals on Wheels Yolo County
Addressing Food Access in Yolo County
Since launching this new focus over the summer, our team has been working closely with those addressing food insecurity — a critical issue in Yolo County and one of our newly identified priorities.
This month, we wrapped up the first phase of our learning and listening work on food access. The team connected deeply with the community, engaging with over 40 stakeholders: hosting focus groups, attending events, and conducting interviews with local food providers, farmers, grocers, school administrators, religious leaders, county health officials, local municipal departments, and others working to nourish families.
These conversations built on key resources like the Food System Action Plan and Yolo Food Access Survey, offering powerful insights into existing and emerging opportunities and challenges:
- Sustainable funding is urgently needed for nonprofits addressing food insecurity, especially as pandemic-related government funding expires but the need continues to grow.
- The region is rich with partnerships and agricultural resources, yet barriers to access persist for many families and individuals.
- There are many innovative approaches to address food insecurity being led by nonprofit, government, and for-profit partners throughout the county.
- Yolo County communities are generous and supportive of food access related causes.
Food access is an extremely complex issue that intersects agricultural, environmental, economic, and cultural factors. Addressing it requires collaboration, creativity, and a systemic approach. We believe that, together, we can build a stronger food system — one that ensures local families have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.
Here’s how you can join us:
- Follow the us on social media or sign up for our e-newsletter to stay informed about our progress.
- Reach out to our Impact team to explore collaborative opportunities.
- Make a gift to the Impact Fund to fuel this work.
- Open an Unrestricted Fund to invest in the long-term solutions our community needs.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can create a region where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and vibrant life.
Over the course of a year, we listened, learned, and gathered insights from hundreds of nonprofit leaders, fundholders, and community members across the region. What we heard was clear: The most pressing challenges — and greatest opportunities — are rooted in health equity.
From Our Blog
