When CalFresh benefits (nationally known as SNAP) lapsed during the federal government shutdown, community members like you sprang into action. You ensured the Food Bank could respond to the challenge of the moment and keep our community fed.
Our 245 hunger-fighting nonprofit partners also felt your generosity – the food pantries, soup kitchens, childcare centers, and other agencies that help us get food to everyone who needs it.
Thanks to you, we were able to provide emergency grants to our partners to help them meet the most urgent needs of the neighbors they serve. Here are just a few of the ways YOU made a difference for our community:
Food is Free Bay Area
Our partner food pantry provides free groceries to families in Vallejo, Benicia and Vacaville. When the government shut down, their already-busy distributions saw their highest numbers ever, with more than 670 families receiving food in a single afternoon. Your generous support ensured they could rise to the challenge while also maintaining their food transport van.
“Your donation allowed us to serve people at what might have been the lowest point of their lives,” shares Executive Director Heather Pierini. “It not only allowed us to help keep them nourished, but it also allowed us to make sure they know that someone cares.“
Trinity Center
Our partners at Trinity Center ensure that neighbors experiencing homelessness in Walnut Creek have access to hot, healthy meals and other vital safety net service. But Associate Executive Director Pam McGrath shares that when the center is closed, many of the neighbors she serves struggle to access food.
That only got harder when CalFresh benefits lapsed during the government shutdown. Thanks to you, Trinity Center was able to fill the gap by providing the neighbors they serve with gift cards from local grocery stores.
Marcus, a neighbor who regularly visits the center, shared that your generosity not only helped him stay nourished – it gave him dignity and independence at a difficult time. “I don’t always know where I’ll sleep, but I can choose what I eat,” he said. “It makes me feel human again.”
Bay Area Crisis Nursery
In addition to providing emergency childcare for parents around the region, our partners at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery are a lifeline for families facing hunger in the Concord area.
When the government shut down, “there was a bit of panic from people,” says Gina McGlasson, Lead Facility Manager at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery, who helped field the many calls from families seeking help.
Thanks to you, the center was able to supplement the food and diapers it receives from the Food Bank during this critical time to ensure even more local families could receive your support.
Your support reaches many corners of our community
Hunger is deepening in Contra Costa and Solano Counties, but you ensure that we can be there when our neighbors need us! Your generosity allows us to distribute food directly to our community at over 250 convenient locations and support 245 hunger-fighting agency partners to reach across our community.