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We advocate tenaciously for upstream policy solutions that address both the consequences and root causes of hunger, and our State Policy Agenda is a key element of our strategy to effect change. Read more in our Policy Platform.
The policies and budget investments we’re supporting address the concerns raised by our community in our 2024 Policy Priorities Survey, including supporting food access for seniors, children, and our immigrant neighbors, and advocating with our government leaders to strengthen the social safety net.
Everyone has a role in advancing our policy priorities – whether it be learning about an issue, mobilizing colleagues and friends to act, or raising your voice in support at legislative hearings.
We’re focused on public investments and policy changes that will have a sustainable impact on the communities we serve. For a full list, please see our 2024 State Priorities. Here are some highlights:
CalFood: Sustain $60M annual funding to enable food banks to purchase CA-grown products
Ensure CalFresh Benefits are Adequate: Provide a permanent state supplement to raise the CalFresh minimum monthly benefit from the current $23 to at least $50.
Farmer’s Market Nutrition incentives: Restore proposed cuts to ensure continued support of the Market Match CalFresh incentive program.
AB 1967 (Jackson) Food Insecurity Officer: Improve coordination of government resources and outcomes by creating a Cabinet-level position to address food insecurity statewide.
SB 245 (Hurtado) / AB 311 (Santiago): Food4All - Expand CA Food Assistance Program to provide food benefits to all income-eligible people, regardless of immigration status.
School Meals For All: Ensure continued, adequate funding to strengthen student nutrition programs including school breakfast and lunch.
AB 1975 (Bonta): Transition medically supportive food and nutrition interventions from optional services in healthcare to permanent Medi-Cal benefits.
$2.5M
Funding to support food bank infrastructure and increase capacity
110,000
Expanded access to CA Food Assistance Program to Californians age 55+ regardless of immigration status
$120M
Funding to purchase food from CA farms to feed food bank participants
Behind every policy decision is a human being. Our advocacy has the power to influence the lives of thousands of our neighbors. Learn more and meet a few of them here:
I help neighbors access CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps), which is a safety net program that gives families access to nutritious foods. People need our help with CalFresh because the system is not easy to navigate, and the rules constantly change. We’re here to help people apply for CalFresh and to know their rights in the program.
Alex, senior program manager at our Food Bank More
A lot of seniors isolated themselves during the pandemic. Being at the Food Bank allows you to be with real-life people. So it’s very good for the psyche, the mental health.
Mitchell, volunteer More
Changing policy is a marathon, not a race. We’re proud of how we’ve worked together with other advocates to achieve some pretty audacious goals. Our strength is that we’re always in conversation with our community to inform our policy priorities.
Marchon, associate director of policy and advocacy at our Food Bank More
There are so many ways we work towards ending poverty, and a big part of that is food — it allows families to budget their money; maybe dollars that they were gonna spend on food can go to something else that supports them, especially with how expensive food is getting.
Linda, distribution coordinator at our partner Homeless Prenatal Program More
“[The Food Bank] gives mostly everything — bell pepper now, mushroom, ground beef, turkey, eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, oranges… so, mostly the food that [I] eat every day. I’ll use that in a stir fry, or sometimes I make sinigang, sisig, adobo, or lumpia shanghai. I enjoy it.
Victoria, Home-Delivered Groceries participant MoreOur state policy advocacy is rooted in partnerships and coalitions. Our voices are louder when we speak together.
