Said Mesheau, “While we still need food donations, monetary support goes much further - for every $1 we receive, we’re able to provide $3 worth of food. However, food donations are still welcome. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)ĭuring the holidays, when food banks historically receive the most support, KQED reported that food banks had a greater need for funds than food - that’s still the case. Boxes of vegetables await distribution at a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pop-up pantry.

Hayward of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley said that financial donations are down 30% since the peak of the pandemic, while food and fuel costs have increased significantly.

He explained, however, that “hunger is a 365-day-a-year problem,” and that food banks still need full support throughout the year. Last winter, KQED spoke to Michael Altfest, community engagement and marketing director at the Alameda County Community Food Bank, who said that 60% of its funding comes from the holiday season. Jang also encourages people to get their workplaces and co-workers involved in a group volunteer shift during those time slots during the work week.

These include volunteering to make food bank home deliveries, which have a slightly more flexible schedule. What if your work schedule prevents you from taking on many shifts during the week? Cody Jang, associate director of community engagement at the SF-Marin Food Bank, said that for prospective volunteers who are only available during the weekends, there are still ways to make a big impact. The food banks KQED spoke to all pointed to a need for volunteers. While many weekend food bank shifts get taken quickly, other important shifts throughout the week remain unfilled. She noted, however, that anecdotal evidence from food bank workers points to a rise in people visiting the food bank weekly - as opposed to a previous trend of people visiting monthly once their benefits run out. Keely Hopkins, senior communications manager at the SF-Marin Food Bank, said it’s still too early to know whether the end of the CalFresh allotments is the reason for the increased need. (If you were one of them, take a look at our guide to other ways to find food assistance and funds.) That federal funding ended in April, meaning that many lower-income Californians experienced a big reduction in their benefits. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)ĭuring the pandemic, people using CalFresh (also known as food stamps) received a minimum “emergency allotment” of $95 a month. Volunteers at the food distribution events often help set up, build grocery bags, distribute food, check in participants, manage the line and help with other tasks as needed. Volunteers distribute food items at a San Francisco-Marin Food Bank pop-up pantry in the Richmond District of San Francisco on June 13, 2023. That number rose to 55,000 households - a 72% increase. Pre-pandemic, the organization served an average of 32,000 households a week. Diane Baker Hayward, director of communications at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, told KQED the number of people being served at its location is also back to peak pandemic levels.Īt the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, it’s a different story.

Donate hair bay area