Hunger Report Shows Systemic Challenges are Driving Hunger

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank 2024 Hunger Report Reveals 70% of Food Bank Participants are Working

San Francisco (September 15, 2024) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank released its 2024 Hunger Report, showing that a stubbornly high cost of living and wages that can’t support basic needs are straining families.

Based on responses from more than 3,000 Food Bank participants and people on our wait list, the report shows our community continues to struggle:

• 77% of participants sometimes or often worry about running out of food. With even more stark numbers among BIPOC communities and those with children (especially single parents):
  • 88% of Latinx participants 80% of Black participants, 87% of single parents, and 83% of households with children sometimes or often worry about running out of food.
• 70% of respondents have at least one person in their household working, and 35% are working multiple jobs.
• 92% of those on our wait list are experiencing food insecurity compared to 75% of those who are enrolled.

“We see first-hand the tradeoffs our participants are making,” said Tanis Crosby, executive director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “The high cost of living means that participants just can’t afford to buy enough food. This is a policy choice. We must work with our community and elected officials to invest in safety net programs and find lasting solutions to the root causes of hunger.”

The cost of living in Marin and San Francisco is so high that an individual would need to work approximately 1.5 full time minimum wage jobs in San Francisco and 1.75 in Marin just to cover their basic expenses[1]. This financial reality is why even with 70% of respondents working and 35% having multiple jobs, many in our community are struggling to get by.

Solutions to End Hunger

While we are proud to see 96% of our participants worry less about having enough food thanks to our services, as we move to the future, we must transform our services and advocate for policy solutions that drive lasting change.

One such policy solution, was the passage of AB 518 earlier this year which will hold the state of California accountable for increasing CalFresh enrollment. There are currently an estimated 2.7 million Californians who qualify for CalFresh but are not accessing this critical anti-hunger program – placing California in the bottom 5 states for enrollment. This bill will require the state to develop a methodology to estimate CalFresh participation rates and identify characteristics of those who are eligible but not yet receiving the services.

CalFresh is one of the most effective tools we have to address hunger, which is why the Food Bank helped lead statewide advocacy efforts that resulted in the passage of this bill. We are tremendously grateful to Governor Newsom for signing the bill into law and Assemblymember Corey Jackson and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks for their leadership in the development of this bill.

Looking to the future, we will continue to advocate for systemic policy changes and are working to amplify the voices of those with firsthand experience with food insecurity. We are also collaborating with our network to expand capacity and working with other partner organizations to open community markets that imagine a new way of service that not only provides dignified food choices but also access to other support services.

Hunger Report Methodology

The Hunger Report is based on findings from the Food Bank’s annual participant survey. This year the Food Bank heard from more than 3,000 participants and wait listed individuals in Food Bank-run Pop-Up Food Pantries and partner-run Neighborhood Food Pantries. Surveys were sent via SMS or email through Survey Sparrow in spring 2024. The survey is a critical part of the Food Bank’s commitment to data driven decision making and ensuring participant feedback is incorporated in service planning.

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Almost 50,000 households count on us for food assistance. 70% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

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[1] Based on United Way’s Real Cost Measure (https://unitedwaysca.org/realcost/) and a $16 minimum wage in Marin County and a $18.67 minimum wage in San Francisco County. Full time is defined as 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year.

 

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Needs to Raise Two-Thirds of Annual Budget by Year-End

Declining Government Support Makes This Goal More Critical Than Ever

San Francisco, CA (December 18, 2023) – By December 31, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank needs to raise two-thirds of our annual revenue — so far, we’ve only raised 65% of that goal. With rising food insecurity and the doubling of child poverty, hitting that goal to ensure the Food Bank can serve as many people as possible is critical.

Our community is struggling. Historic inflation, coupled with a rollback of supports like the expanded Child Tax Credit and CalFresh emergency allotments, is forcing low-income people to make difficult choices. The rising cost of utilities, housing, childcare, and more means that participants just can’t afford to buy enough food. According to a recent survey of more than 9,000 Food Bank participants:

• 61% couldn’t cover a $400 emergency expense
• 83% worry about running out of food
• 54% have had to buy less food because of rising grocery prices

The Food Bank is not immune to rising food expenses and shrinking support: funding cuts from all levels of government are making it challenging to meet the ongoing need.

“We see first-hand the tradeoffs low- and modest-income people are making,” said Tanis Crosby, Executive Director, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “Just as more people turn to us, we are struggling to keep up with rising costs and fewer donations. We need the community’s help now more than ever. Especially as we need to raise two thirds of our annual budget by December 31st.”

Stretching Every Dollar

The Food Bank can turn every $1 donation into two meals. Through the end of December, the Food Bank has secured matching gifts from its dedicated partners — meaning donations during this time will go twice (or even three times) as far. This efficiency makes monetary donations significantly more impactful than providing food by allowing the Food Bank to purchase high quality meat, eggs, produce, and more.

December 31st is the deadline for individuals to make their last tax-deductible gift of the year.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank receives a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and 94% of the Food Bank’s donated resources go directly to its programs.

Other Ways to Give

Those who do not have the means to donate, or who would like to give in other ways, should consider volunteering in January and February. Many people think about volunteering around the holidays and the Food Bank’s November and December shifts often fill quickly. But for those facing hunger, keeping their pantries full is a year-round challenge. Every year the Food Bank sees a steep decline in volunteers after the New Year, so it is asking the community to make volunteering their New Year’s resolution. January and February shifts are already available for sign up: https://volunteering.sfmfoodbank.org/need/2023/01.

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 50,000+ households count on us for food assistance. More than 70% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

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CONTACT

Keely Hopkins

Senior Communications Manager, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

O: 415-282-1900, ext. 292,

C: 415-792-8346

 

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Announces Giving Tuesday Match from Wells Fargo 

All Gifts Tripled up to $25,000 

 

San Francisco, CA (November 27, 2023) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is teaming up with Wells Fargo to offer a triple match this Giving Tuesday, November 28, for all donations up to $25,000. Normally, a $1 donation to the Food Bank provides enough food for two meals – but this Giving Tuesday, a $1 donation will provide six meals for neighbors across San Francisco and Marin. That means a $50 donation will provide enough food for 300 meals! 

This generous match comes at a critical time: the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is now spending four times more on food than it was in 2019, and child poverty more than doubled between 2021 and 2022. Inflation combined with declining support for food security programs at all levels of government is hitting both food banks and participants hard. The Food Bank recently surveyed over 9,000 of its participants to learn more about the landscape of hunger in the region and learned: 

• 83% of participants sometimes or often worry about running out of food. 
• 60% of households have at least one person working, showing unemployment is not the driver of food insecurity. 
• 61% of participants could not cover a $400 emergency expense. That number is even starker for people who identify as Black or Latinx – 85% and 76% respectively could not cover a $400 expense.  
• 54% reported buying less food because of the rising cost of groceries. 

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is also seeing a decline in private donations, and it encourages supporters to join hands and invest in their community this Giving Tuesday. 

“The Food Bank and our participants are struggling right now. But I’m continually awed by what our community can do when we band together to uplift our neighbors,” said Tanis Crosby, Executive Director of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “Wells Fargo’s triple match is a critical part of empowering people to create real, lasting change in the lives of those facing hunger.”  

Donating to the Food Bank will support services for neighbors across San Francisco and Marin. The Food Bank works with 345 community partners to bring food to 250+ pantries across both counties and home-delivers groceries to seniors, people with disabilities, and other homebound participants. More than 70% of what it distributes is fresh produce. It also helps eligible people sign up for CalFresh (food stamps), an essential anti-hunger tool that puts money for food directly into people’s pockets. The Food Bank doesn’t just work to manage hunger: it addresses the root causes of food insecurity by advocating at all levels of government to create real, lasting policy change. 

To learn more or to donate, visit sfmfoodbank.org.  

 

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ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO-MARIN FOOD BANK 

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 50,000+ households count on us for food assistance. More than 70% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more. 

 

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CONTACT 

Keely Hopkins 

Senior Communications Manager, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank 

khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org 

O: 415-282-1900, ext. 292 

C: 415-792-8346 

San Francisco (September 13, 2023) – The 12th annual SF Turkey Drive will kick off Saturday, November 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Emydius Church. The drive, which was started by San Francisco resident Pierre Smit, is a collaboration with St. Emydius Church in the Ingleside District and the San Francisco Zoo.

Individuals are encouraged to bring turkeys (preferably frozen), boxes of fresh vegetables and/or monetary donations to the SF Turkey Drive’s November and December drop off locations:

• Saturday, November 18, 2023, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  St. Emydius Church parking lot, 350 De Montfort Ave., San Francisco
• Monday, November 20, 2023, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  SF Zoo Main Parking Lot
• December 16, 2023, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  St. Emydius Church, 350 De Montfort Ave., San Francisco

“I started the SF Turkey Drive out of my home in 2012, and every year since we’ve been collecting turkeys on the Saturdays before Thanksgiving and before Christmas,” said Pierre Smit. “With food prices increasing rapidly, I’ve seen first-hand the impact on low-income people. But everyone needs to eat. And I believe with a meal, everyone finds hope for a better tomorrow.”

This is a critical time for neighbors facing food insecurity. As social safety net services are weakened, we’ve seen the number of people experiencing food insecurity in this country go up by 31%, and child poverty rates double from 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2022. In our very own community, we are seeing 83% of Food Bank participants worry about running out food, and 61% wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 emergency expense (2023 Hunger Report).

While the Food Bank is currently serving more than 50,000 households across San Francisco and Marin counties each week, it is also seeing cuts in funding and government support that are making this level of services unsustainable.

“We are seeing fewer and fewer industry donations of important items like turkeys. Coupled with inflation and declining donations from the USDA, this means we are now spending five times more on food compared to before the pandemic,” said Barbara Abbott, Chief Supply Chain Officer, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “We are so grateful the SF Turkey Drive selected us to be their beneficiary for the first time this year.”

One hundred percent of donations to the 12th Annual SF Turkey Drive will go to the Food Bank. What began as a grassroots campaign has blossomed into a holiday tradition and chance for individuals to directly support their neighbors. The drive hopes to collect at least 1,300 turkeys.

 

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, more than 50,000 households count on us for food assistance. 60% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

 

MEDIA CONTACT

Keely Hopkins, Senior Communications Manager

C: 415-792-8346

khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

Cyclists Race to Collect Thousands of Pounds of Food on Their Bicycles

San Francisco, CA (November 2, 2023) – Supermarket Street Sweep will be off to the races for their 16th annual bike race to benefit the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank this Saturday. The race will start at Cupid’s Span on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. From there racers will ride off on independent routes to collect food from grocery stores throughout San Francisco to donate to the Food Bank. The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank warehouse will be a one-stop shop for both the race finish and the after party.

This annual bike race has brought in 131,954 pounds of food since it first started. During the last race, racers brought in 2,500 lbs. of food on their bicycles and raised enough money to purchase food for 4,600 meals.

“The Street Sweep is amazing – it supports community, promotes bikes as workhorses, and is just downright fun. We were thrilled to bring the event back after the pandemic, and we are so excited to hit the streets again,” says Bicycle Law’s Miles Cooper.

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RACE DAY SCHEDULE:

• 12:00p.m. – Riders begin Sweep at Cupid’s Span at Folsom and Embarcadero
• 1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – riders begin to arrive back at the Food Bank (900 Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco)
• 4:00p.m. – Sweep cutoff. Riders check in at Food Bank. Afterparty
• 4:00 pm. – 6:30 PM – After party and awards

*Press are welcome at the starting line during check-in before the start of the race or at the finish line. Food Bank and Bicycle Law spokespeople will be available at the finish line between 3-4 p.m.*

WHERE:

• Start: Cupid’s Span at Folsom and Embarcadero
• Finish: San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, 900 Pennsylvania Ave., San Francisco, CA

SPOKESPERSON AVAILABLITY: Miles Cooper, Partner at Bicycle Law, Supermarket Street Sweep; and Katy Mann McKnight, director of community engagement, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank will be available at the finish line at 900 Pennsylvania Ave. between 3-4 p.m.

PHOTO/B-ROLL OPPORTUNITIES: racers at the start of the race; cyclists taking off at race start; cyclists arriving at the finish with donated food; unloading of donated food; general warehouse activity; after party

ON-SITE MEDIA CONTACT: Keely Hopkins, khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org, (415) 792-8346

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 56,000 households count on us for food assistance. 60% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

ABOUT BICYCLE LAW

We believe bicycles and e-bicycles are the best way to better our world.

From reducing emissions and footprints to increasing our personal health and connectedness to our community, bikes are the key. Our goal is to get more butts on bikes by making it safe and easy for everyone.

Due to Budget Cuts, The Food Bank Will Scale
Down Pandemic-era Services Over the Next Two Years 

San Francisco, CA (October 17, 2023) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is announcing that over the next two years it will reduce its pandemic-era services due to the end of federal, state and local funding for emergency pandemic services. The Food Bank will close all emergency Pop-Up Pantries located across San Francisco and Marin by June 30, 2025 and is currently reducing its Home Delivered Groceries enrollment. It will transition participants back to the pre-pandemic model of food distribution through a network of neighborhood pantries.

“Pop-Up Pantries are not closing immediately,” said Executive Director Tanis Crosby. “We are committed to serving our community to the best of our ability. Our goal is for this to be a thoughtful and planned transition, where we can eventually serve as many participants as possible directly through our pantry network as we did prior to the pandemic.”

To minimize the impact on participants, during the two-year period the Food Bank will continue to work with its community partners to expand existing food pantries and reopen those that closed due to COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, 33% of the food pantries in the Food Bank’s network closed. The organization is focused on working with partners to rebuild that network capacity. However, due to funding cuts there will be longer waitlists at pantries and some in need will no longer have access to Food Bank services. By the end of June 2025, the Food Bank projects it will serve approximately 40,000 households per week – about 20 percent more than pre-pandemic.

The Food Bank grew its staff to meet the emergency response demands of the pandemic. The reduction of pandemic-era services will also, unfortunately, require the Food Bank to reduce its workforce over the next two years. By the end of June 2025, the organization anticipates its staffing will reduce from 253 to below 200 employees through attrition, early retirements, and layoffs. No staff are losing their jobs immediately.

The Food Bank is announcing the planned changes in pre-pandemic services early to allow for a thoughtful transition over the next two years for participants and staff.  Planned benefits for staff who will be impacted include strong severance and career support packages to enable future employment opportunities. The Food Bank highly values its staff, many of whom served courageously on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.

“The impact of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank in providing groceries to tens of thousands of individuals and families in need during the pandemic was simply remarkable,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “In the post-pandemic funding landscape, the unfortunate reality facing local governments is federal support for anti-hunger programs is dwindling. We must develop new approaches to address food insecurity. The Food Bank is working collaboratively on innovative and coordinated food access initiatives to end hunger in our city, and I look forward to working together in strong partnership.”

“Given the incredible need for food that still exists in our communities, it is simply no longer enough to manage hunger,” said Crosby. “We look forward to working with the City of San Francisco, our partners and supporters to accelerate equitable solutions to address the root causes of hunger.”

The Food Bank is extremely disappointed that the City of San Francisco has chosen not to increase funding for critical food programs in its budget. While we understand this is a difficult budget year, the decision to return to pre-pandemic levels of food funding ignores the realities of food insecurity we witness every day in our community. The decision to deprioritize San Francisco’s food safety net programs will cause great harm to low-income residents struggling to put food on the table.

Together with our network of more than 350 partner organizations, we serve thousands of people who are trying to balance the rising cost of groceries and other necessities while social safety nets like CalFresh are eroding. We had hoped our local elected officials would understand there cannot be economic recovery in San Francisco without first ensuring everyone in our city can meet their basic needs.

While the food security funding landscape has changed, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank remains committed to serving those who need food assistance to the best of our ability. But we also recognize the lack of funding for critical food programs will have consequences for those who rely on our services and will impact the programs we can offer. We are currently working through those plans and will provide updates to partners and participants as they are available.

Report Finds SF-Marin Food Bank Delivery Program Fills Critical Gap for
Low-Income San Francisco and Marin Residents

The Program Faces an Unsustainable $2.1 Million Operating Cost Increase

San Francisco, CA (March 30, 2023) – A San Francisco-Marin Food Bank report finds the Food Bank’s Home-Delivered Groceries (HDG) Program — one of the largest of its kind in the country — reaches several key populations who are not being served by other food insecurity programs in San Francisco and Marin Counties. The report shows how HDG provides groceries directly to 13,000 people, including seniors, residents with disabilities, people who are pregnant, and parents of children aged three and younger, and has the potential to be a model for cities nationwide.

While the HDG program provides a much-needed service for low-income individuals who are unable to attend a weekly food pantry, its ability to continue at current levels is in jeopardy due to funding and resource challenges.

Program Impact

Each week participants receive a bag of healthy groceries – 60% of which is fresh produce – delivered directly to their door.

Survey results from households receiving HDG show an overwhelmingly positive response to this approach to combat food insecurity. 93% of HDG participants are less worried about getting enough food, 92% feel healthier, and 95% eat more produce and whole grains.

HDG has also proven effective in eliminating barriers to food access, including mobility issues, transportation limitations, schedule constraints, and more.

“I was the victim of a hit-and-run a few years ago and I live in pain on a daily basis,” said Violet, a 92-year-old Richmond District resident and HDG participant. “The produce is just wonderful. It’s hard for me to lug vegetables home – they’re heavy, you know?”

In San Francisco and Marin, approximately 18,000 low-income older adults with disabilities need assistance with food deliveries.  Additionally, low-income pregnant people have some of the highest food insecurity rates, and access to transportation is a significant barrier to food access for this group.

“The existing service landscape, beyond the HDG program, is simply not able to provide enough accessible supplemental food assistance to meet population needs,” said Diana Jenson, MPP, report author and food insecurity and social services analyst. “It is rare that existing food programs fit together effectively to truly meet the needs of these populations. Either food assistance programs don’t provide enough food, delivery is not available, or both.”

The report also finds the HDG program offers much more than a bag of groceries. It provides empowerment, social connection, and contributes to the physical and mental health of participants.

“I’m a victim of domestic violence, and a single mom. With HDG, I have enough time to spend in my support group, to go to therapy, to speak with my lawyer, to be with my child,” said Gabriela, a single mother of a three-year-old girl, SOMA resident, and HDG participant. “[Getting groceries delivered] just takes a little bit of time out of this whole complicated thing.”

Program in Jeopardy

Corporate partners generously supported 76 percent of all deliveries in January. As the pandemic recedes from society’s collective consciousness, that in-kind support is disappearing. A shift in commitment from one major corporate partner starting in March is estimated to increase the program’s cost by $2.1 million annually – an unsustainable budget increase for the Food Bank.

“HDG makes up nearly 25% of the 53,000 households the Food Bank serves each week. Both the reach and the impact of this service are tremendous,” said Seth Harris, HDG Program Manager. “But now that we’re seeing declining corporate support, we need more volunteers to maintain the program. Without help from the community, we’ll be forced to scale it down.”

Additional public funding from agencies such as the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) is critical to continue meeting the need in our community and to sustain the program at its current levels. Otherwise, the Food Bank will be forced to reduce the number of participants it is able to serve through delivery. Research estimates the health care costs associated with food insecurity are $204.6 million for San Francisco County. Investing in programs like Home-Delivered Groceries will ensure San Francisco is supporting its community and lowering healthcare costs over the long term.

The Food Bank is also looking for additional corporate delivery partners and volunteers who can commit to regular volunteer shifts over several months. Learn more about volunteering here: https://volunteering.sfmfoodbank.org/grocery-delivery-onboarding/.

Program Participants

HDG uniquely supports low-income individuals who may lack access to food due to shifting work schedules, caregiver responsibilities, mobility or cognitive disabilities, and more that make it hard to attend a food pantry. Demographics include:

• 4% of participants live in Marin County
• 74% are women
• 72% are older adults
• 13,000 households totaling 30,000+ people
• 7,000 children

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 53,000 households count on us for food assistance. 60% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

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CONTACT

Keely Hopkins

Senior Communications Manager, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

C: 415-792-8346

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Announces $25,000 Volunteer Match

2,500 Volunteer Signups Unlocks a $25,000 Donation

 

San Francisco, CA (January 12, 2023) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank will receive a $25,000 donation if it receives 2,500 volunteer signups between January 12-22, thanks to the generosity of the Alice Lam Memorial Fund. Shifts do not have to be served in this period – just a sign-up will bring the Food Bank closer to the goal.

This match comes at a critical time when the Food Bank sees a significant drop in volunteers during the months following the holiday season. The Food Bank encourages Bay Area residents to make it their New Years’ resolution to give back to their community.

“We believe food is the most important thing – nothing else can come unless people are fed. It’s direct aid to the community,” said Andrew Lam, Alice Lam’s son. “My mother Alice volunteered a lot, and my father and I thought this match would honor her. Everybody has different ways to give back, and we thought we could encourage the gift of time.”

Volunteers help make it possible for the Food Bank to serve 56,000 households per week, up from 32,000 pre-pandemic. According to a recent survey of nearly 6,000 Food Bank participants, 72% have not recovered financially from COVID-19’s impact on their finances. Inflation is forcing tough choices as families struggle to balance the increasingly high cost of living, surging gas bills, and continually rising food prices. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index Report, food prices are up 10 percent compared to last year in the San Francisco metro area.

Support from the Alice Lam Memorial Fund means a donation of time can go even further to help neighbors facing food insecurity. Unlocking the $25,000 donation will provide enough food for 50,000 meals.

“The need is still there, if not growing right now, but we’re short on volunteers,” said Stephanie Chin, a regular volunteer at the Food Bank’s Lincoln High School Pop-up Pantry. “I encourage people to get out in your community. It’s also really fun – we’ve had great experiences meeting new people. We’re doing community service, but we joke that sometimes it feels like you’re in a coffee shop and at the gym at the same time.”

How to Help

There are volunteer opportunities for everyone, from corporate groups to teenagers to kids as young as eight:

• Pack grocery bags at a Food Pantry
• Home-deliver groceries to homebound neighbors
• Sort food at the San Francisco or San Rafael warehouse
• Bilingual support is especially needed

Sign up for a shift today and help provide food for all.

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 56,000 households count on us for food assistance. 60% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.

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CONTACT

Keely Hopkins

Senior Communications Manager, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

khopkins@sfmfoodbank.org

O: 415-282-1900, ext. 292

C: 415-792-8346

 

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Asks for Community Donations

Inflation Drives Unsustainable Expenses for The Food Bank

San Francisco, CA (December 21, 2022) – The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is facing pressure from all sides. As more people turn to the Food Bank for support, inflation pushes food costs even higher. The Food Bank needs the community’s support to continue meeting this increased need. Through the end of December, the Food Bank has secured matching gifts from its dedicated partners – meaning donations during this time will go twice as far. December 31^st is the deadline for individuals to make their last tax-deductible gift of the year.

The Food Bank currently serves 56,000 households a week, compared to 32,000 pre-pandemic. According to a recent survey of nearly 6,000 Food Bank participants, 72% have not recovered financially from COVID-19’s impact on their finances. Inflation is forcing tough choices as families struggle to balance the increasingly high cost of living, surging gas bills, and continually rising food prices. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index Report, food prices are up 10 percent compared to last year in the San Francisco metro area.

“We’re forced to make choices, you know? I literally don’t go grocery shopping. I can’t afford to. I’m stuck between the choice of paying my housing and utility costs or purchasing food. So, I literally gave up on purchasing food,” said Sharon, a Food Bank participant in San Francisco.

Food Costs Are Rising

The Food Bank isn’t immune to these challenges. It faces unsustainable budget increases, sustained global supply chain issues, and a drastic decline in government support.

This year we are receiving 25 percent less food from the USDA compared to last year. As a result of that, fewer industry food donations, and rising prices the Food Bank spent 35% more on its holiday menu this year – that’s $480,000 more than last year.

• Chicken cost more than twice as much;
• eggs are up 88%;
• the cost of produce has doubled;
• rice is up 63%.

It’s not just food prices that are rising. In November, fuel costs were 60 percent higher than last fiscal year.

Donations Are Needed

“Between inflation and the lingering financial impacts of COVID-19, low- and modest-income families are hurting,” said Tanis Crosby, executive director, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. “Just as more people turn to us, we are struggling to keep up with rising costs. We need the community’s support now more than ever. Especially as we need to raise more than half our annual budget by December 31^st.”

The Food Bank can turn every $1 donation into two meals – four meals with the current matching gifts – making monetary donations significantly more impactful than providing food. With these contributions, the Food Bank purchases high quality meat, eggs, produce, and more.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank receives a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. 95 percent of the Food Bank’s expenses goes directly to its programs.

Other Ways to Give

Those who do not have the means to donate, or who would like to give in other ways, should consider volunteering in January and February. Many people think about volunteering around the holidays and our November and December shifts often fill quickly. But for those facing hunger, keeping their pantries full is a year-round challenge. Every year the Food Bank sees a steep decline in volunteers after the New Year, so it is asking the community to make volunteering their New Year’s resolution. January and February shifts are already available for sign up: https://volunteering.sfmfoodbank.org/need/2023/01.

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ABOUT THE FOOD BANK

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin, where even before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. We envision a community where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support. Together with community partners, we work to address hunger head-on through neighborhood food pantries, CalFresh enrollment, home-delivered groceries, and policy and advocacy efforts. We work with our community to create lasting solutions to address both the hunger we see today and the root causes that perpetuate food insecurity in our society. Every week, 56,000 households count on us for food assistance. 60% of what we distribute is fresh fruits and vegetables. Visit sfmfoodbank.org to learn more.