Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is grateful that Governor Newsom included $38 million of CalFood funding in the new state budget; however, the local food bank worries that it is not enough to address hunger as a whole within the Inland Empire (IE) and beyond.
“Programs like CalFood are essential to helping us meet the growing need for food assistance across California,” said Interim CEO Joanna Solorio. “While we are grateful for the funding we received, we remain concerned that it does not go far enough, especially for families here in the IE. As federal cuts to CalFresh and SNAP continue to impact vulnerable households, food banks cannot bridge the gap alone. Sustained state investment is critical to ensuring our neighbors do not go without the food they need.” Solorio continued.
A University of California, Riverside study found that 53% of households are struggling with the rising cost of living, while 6% say they are suffering. Basic needs are cited as a major issue for many in the region, with over 370,000 households in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties relying on CalFresh. A drop in participation due to new restrictions will cause more families to utilize food banks to bridge that gap, and food banks simply don’t have that capacity.
FARSB has seen record numbers of neighbors coming to distributions or partner pantries year over year, with the latest numbers showing a total of 5.7 million people served in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. With the changes in HR-1 not fully implemented, there is still worry around the effects of reductions or losses in benefits affecting IE families especially hard, as a majority of community members struggle to keep up with the rising costs of living.
FARSB is asking to fully fund CalFood to protect our food system and boost food banks' abilities to provide nutritious food for families in need in the IE.
Help Support Food Banks During Uncertainty:
· Give Funds – Donate to help support food banks during uncertainty
· Give Food – Start a food drive to boost food donations
· Give Time – Sign up for a sorting shift at the warehouse or off-site distribution
If you’d like to know more about FARSB legislative priorities, please visit www.FeedingIE.org/advocacy to stay updated on current public policy concerns.
Photo Credits: Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino
Sources:
University of California, Riverside | Center for Community Solutions. August 2025. Building Common Ground Through Data: Insights on Vital Conditions in the IE. Building Common Ground Through Data | Center for Community Solutions
California Department of Social Services. May 18th, 2026, CalFresh Data Dashboard. CF dashboard - PUBLIC | Tableau Public
About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino
Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary food source for nearly 250 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over 3.3 million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, senior centers, after-school programs, and more. With the help of these community partners, they make up the largest hunger-relief organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, ultimately making food security a reality for over one million households every year. Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino proudly holds the 2025 Guide Star Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of transparency achievable through Guide Star. For more information, visit http://www.FeedingIE.org
Contact:
Rachel Bonilla
951-359-4757 ext. 117
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