As grocery prices continue climbing across California, more families are turning to food pantries just to get through the week.
That growing demand could soon collide with a major funding drop. In the Inland Empire — where food insecurity is already widespread — leaders warn that a key state program helping stock pantry shelves may be scaled back dramatically this summer.
The program, known as CalFood, provides funding to food banks so they can purchase and distribute fresh, locally grown food. According to the California Association of Food Banks, hundreds of local pantries could see a sharp decline in available food if the program is reduced as proposed.
“It’s a lifeline for farmers, food banks and families,” said Joanna Solor, interim CEO of Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino, speaking during a recent distribution event at a Riverside church. “It allows us to get food into the community and back into the hands of families who need it.”
Under the state’s May budget revision, CalFood funding could be cut by roughly 90%, returning it to its longstanding $8 million baseline. Food bank leaders say that reduction would come at the worst possible time, as demand continues to rise.
Advocates are pushing state officials to increase funding instead — calling for more than $100 million in the 2026–27 budget — arguing it is essential to prevent what they describe as a “hunger cliff.”
State officials note that CalFood has historically operated at the $8 million level. H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for the California Department of Finance, said the program also received a one-time $72 million boost this year, partly tied to federal funding disruptions. He added that a significant portion of that money — about $74.5 million as of January — remains unspent and available to food banks.
Even so, local providers say the loss of ongoing funding would be significant. Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino, the region’s largest food bank, could see its CalFood allocation drop from $2.3 million to about $262,000 annually. According to Solor, that funding currently makes up as much as a quarter of the organization’s food supply.
Those dollars are especially important for purchasing items that are rarely donated — including fresh produce, dairy, meat, and low-sodium foods.
Solor estimates the proposed cuts could impact roughly 950,000 families across the Inland Empire. She said the effects would likely be visible almost immediately.
“When federal benefits change or get reduced, more people turn to food banks,” she said. “We’re going to see higher demand, fewer healthy options, and shelves that don’t stay full for long.”
The pressure comes on top of recent federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Last summer’s legislation reduced benefits for some households, and additional changes are still rolling out.
In California, the program is administered as CalFresh. State officials say tens of thousands of residents — including certain humanitarian migrants such as refugees and asylum seekers — are expected to lose eligibility beginning in April.
At the same time, a federally supported nutrition education program tied to SNAP is scheduled to end by June 30, according to public health officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
While food banks do not receive SNAP funding directly, they often absorb the fallout when benefits are reduced. That’s why organizations like Feeding America are asking lawmakers to approve $110 million in total support — including $60 million in ongoing funding and a $50 million one-time allocation to offset recent federal cuts.
“Food banks are going to be the safety net for families losing those benefits,” said Rachel Bonilla, a spokesperson for Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino. “Without additional support, we simply won’t be able to meet the need.”
Still, some advocates believe even that request may fall short. Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO of the California Association of Food Banks, said recent budget decisions and federal policy changes are worsening food insecurity across the state.
Recent data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey shows about 22% of California households struggle with food insecurity. The rate is even higher among certain groups — including 43% of Black households and 31% of Latino households — and affects roughly one in four households with children. In the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario region, about 30% of families with children reported food insecurity.
State estimates show nearly 2.3 million people across Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties rely on CalFresh benefits, including more than 347,000 in Riverside County alone.
If CalFood funding is reduced, officials say more than half of Feeding America’s partner pantries — over 250 organizations across the region — could see a noticeable drop in available food.
Among them is the Lighthouse of Hope Foundation, a Riverside-based nonprofit that organizes weekly food distributions. At a recent event held March 18 at the Christian Life Center, hundreds of families lined up around the block for groceries ranging from fresh produce to dry goods.
Founder Donna Sautia said her organization has already distributed more than 100,000 pounds of food this year with help from Feeding America.
“This program has been a blessing for so many families,” Sautia said. “People are struggling right now — benefits are being cut, costs are rising — and hunger doesn’t take a break.”
Without that support, she said, many community groups would struggle to continue operating at the same level.
“If we run out, I’ll do everything I can to fill the gap myself,” she said. “But the need is growing faster than what any one group can handle.”
Sautia added that economic pressures — from rising gas prices to reduced benefits — are hitting families across the region. In some cases, fear tied to immigration enforcement is also keeping people from accessing resources.
“It’s affecting everyone in different ways,” she said. “We’re just trying to make sure no one gets left behind.”
For Riverside resident Veronica Garcia, food assistance programs have become essential. She recently attended a pantry distribution with her daughter and a neighbor after seeing the event advertised on social media.
“Everything is so expensive right now,” Garcia said. “This helps us breathe a little. We want to give our families healthy meals, but it’s not always possible without help.”
She added that continued funding for food programs is critical.
“We’re really grateful these places exist,” she said. “They make a difference.”
