In a packed ballroom in downtown Sacramento on Tuesday, anti-hunger advocates delivered a blunt message to state leaders: millions of Californians are struggling just to eat. New research from the California Association of Food Banks shows nearly 16 million people, close to 40% of the state, cannot afford the basic cost of living, including groceries. Food-bank leaders say they need lawmakers to boost state food-purchase funding to about $110 million as federal cuts and high prices send more families to pantries.
More than 450 advocates crowded into the Hyatt Regency for the Food ACCESS conference, where organizers described a “perfect storm” of spiking grocery prices, shrinking federal aid and rising demand that is straining shelves and budgets. As reported by KCRA, the gathering doubled as a lobbying day, with participants pressing legislators for a stronger state response.
Urban Institute Data Shows Hunger Climbing
Fresh analyses from the Urban Institute’s Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey paint a stark picture for 2025. About 24% of adults in California reported household food insecurity, and that rate jumped to roughly 33% for adults living with children. The survey details widening racial and economic gaps and flags changes to the safety net as a major risk to already tight household budgets. The Urban Institute briefing includes state-level tables and methodology.
Food Banks Say Demand Is Broadening While Supplies Shrink
The California Association of Food Banks reports that its 43-member network is now serving more than 6 million people every month, even as federal commodity shipments decline and operating dollars dry up. Without new action, CalFood baseline funding would fall back to 8 million dollars. The association is asking lawmakers to establish 60 million dollars in ongoing CalFood support plus 50 million dollars in one-time money, a 110 million dollar package advocates say is needed to keep pantries stocked.
The group also notes that food banks received about 38% less food from USDA emergency shipments year over year, tightening the squeeze on local distributions. Those figures are laid out in the organization’s California Association of Food Banks CalFood fact sheet.
Who Is Being Hit, Including Moderate-Income Households
“About one in four Californians deals with food insecurity, and that number goes up to one in three for households with children,” Jared Call, director of public policy and advocacy for the California Association of Food Banks, told KCRA. He added that the hardship is no longer confined to the poorest families. Some middle-class households are now turning to food banks for the first time as budgets buckle under housing, childcare and grocery bills.
Lawmakers Face a Narrow Window
The governor’s May Revision included extra support for food-bank operations, a move the California Association of Food Banks called a welcome first step while urging the Legislature to go further. The May Revise adds 30 million dollars to CalFood, which would bring proposed CalFood funding to 38 million dollars. Even so, the association is standing by its call for 60 million dollars in ongoing funding plus 50 million dollars in one-time money in order to blunt the impact of federal cuts and rising food costs.
In a statement, the organization praised the new investment but warned that the scale of need will outstrip the current proposal. The full statement is available from the California Association of Food Banks.
How to Help
Food-bank leaders say cash is often the most effective way to help, since it allows pantries to buy culturally familiar foods and perishable items in bulk. Volunteers, food drives and even small recurring donations also make a dent, especially as budget negotiations play out at the Capitol over the coming weeks. For anyone looking to move quickly, local food banks remain the fastest route to get time or money into the hands of households that are struggling right now.
