Category: Advocacy

Food Bank Update: Shutdown Community Response

October 31, 2025

On Saturday, November 1, people who rely on SNAP to put food on the table will not receive their benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown and decision by the USDA not to use emergency funds to support the program during the shutdown. The federal government is pulling the safety net out from under children, low-income working people, seniors, and people with disabilities. This is a devastating blow to 90,000 families in San Francisco and Marin – and millions more nationwide – who are already struggling.

We are already seeing a surge in demand for our services. Traffic to our food locator tool on our website has gone up 250% in the past week.

In the face of a crisis that was created by our federal government, we will work with our community to support impacted families and individuals.

Our Shutdown Community Response 

  • Direct cash assistance: we are proud to be in partnership with the city and county of San Francisco and the Crankstart Foundation to help provide gift cards to SNAP recipients in San Francisco to cover benefits in November. We are thrilled to see this happening, it’s an example of how public, private, and nonprofit partnerships can support our community. While we are concerned about what will happen if the shutdown lasts past November, we are relieved families in San Francisco will receive this temporary support this month. The Food Bank is actively advocating and mobilizing for a similar program in Marin.
  • Increasing community capacity: we are working with our community partners and other local organizations to support a temporary increase in their capacity to distribute food to individuals who are impacted by the shutdown. We are actively working through those plans with our partners, but this will include a temporary emergency increase in food pantry capacity along with opportunities for agencies to pick up pre-packed bags of food to deliver to their impacted community members.
  • Increased Home-Delivered Groceries: we plan to temporarily expand our Home-Delivered Grocery program to support community members who are unable to go to a food pantry right now to get the food they need.

If You Need Help 

Our temporary Shutdown Community Response programs will be available to community members who have lost benefits, government employees impacted by the shutdown, and/or neighbors impacted by increased federal immigration enforcement activity.

San Francisco households eligible for support through the pre-paid gift card program will receive a letter from the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) that contains information on how to access their card. Letters will be sent in the first week of November. For more information about the program, visit: CalFresh Emergency Aid | sfhsa.org 

For those impacted by this shutdown or federal government immigration enforcement who need food assistance, please visit our Find Food page regularly. We are still actively working through our community response plan and many details are still coming together.  

For partners and other community organizations that are interested in joining us in this work to bring food to our community, please visit our Partner page regularly. We are still actively working through our community response plan and will have opportunities for you to engage shortly.

To Support the Food Bank 

We can’t do this alone. We are already stretched thin with limited capacity and record demand due to a hunger crisis that predated the shutdown.

You can support us by donating at www.sfmfoodbank.org/donate.  

To volunteer your time, visit www.sfmfoodbank.org/volunteer. Please note, November and December are our busiest volunteer months of the year. If you don’t see a shift please check back regularly as we are continuing to update volunteer opportunities as we develop our Shutdown Community Response plans.

Celebrating Policy Wins for Ending Hunger

October 16, 2025

At the Food Bank, we believe food is a human right. Recent policy wins at the state level are helping move us closer to a future where everyone in California can count on consistent access to healthy food and a stronger safety net. 

This year, several of the anti-hunger initiatives we supported were signed into law thanks to  Governor Gavin Newsom and the advocacy of our partners across the state. Together, we’re making meaningful progress toward ending hunger in California. 

These accomplishments reflect the tireless efforts of our Policy & Advocacy team, who work alongside lawmakers and community advocates to make sure the voices of those most impacted by hunger are heard — and that policies reflect the real needs of our neighbors. 

We’re especially grateful to our legislative partners, statewide advocates, and members of our Food Policy and Advocacy Community Council (Food PACC), whose lived experience and leadership help guide our work every step of the way. 

During the budget and bill process, we successfully advanced the following initiatives with the governor’s signature: 

  • Food Insecurity Officer (AB 119): Requires the California Department of Social Services to develop new methods for estimating CalFresh and CFAP participation rates and identifying Californians eligible for benefits by 2026. The department will submit a legislative report with policy and budget recommendations to reduce food insecurity and improve enrollment in food and nutrition programs. 
  • CalFood Funding: Secures $60 million for FY 25-26 to sustain the program, plus an additional $20 million to continue providing California-grown food to food banks statewide. 
  • California Nutrition Incentives Program (CNIP): Provides $35 million for FY 25-26 to sustain Market Match, helping families stretch their food budgets while supporting local farmers. Through Market Match, CalFresh users get a dollar-for-dollar match at participating farmers markets. 
  • Food4All: Continues the plan to expand the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for older adults, regardless of immigration status, by October 2027. 
  •  School Meals for All: Adds $90.7 million in FY 25-26 funding for the program and $160 million for kitchen upgrades in schools across the state. 
  • SUN Bucks: Provides $40 million for FY 25-26 to support implementation of this summer nutrition benefit program. 
  • CalFresh Semiannual Reporting Workgroup: Convenes a group including county welfare directors, eligibility workers, the Statewide Automated Welfare System, and client advocates to explore changes that will reduce the reporting burden on CalFresh recipients and streamline the process for counties. 
  • Pupil Nutrition: Ensures continued, adequate funding to strengthen student nutrition programs, including school breakfast and lunch. 
  • College Student Awareness of Public Benefits: improves coordination between county-level higher-education liaisons and college students so more students can access food and other public resources. 

With every win, we’re reminded that ending hunger takes all of us — community members, lawmakers, and neighbors — working together to address the root causes of hunger and ensure everyone has access to the food they need to live healthy, full lives. 

At Webster-Eddy Pantry, Neighbors Feed Neighbors

September 18, 2025

Katie, who leads the Webster-Eddy Pantry, on opening day

On the Webster-Eddy food pantry’s opening morning, Japantown was cool and foggy, typical for San Francisco summer. Neighbors lined up along the chain link fence, eager to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables within walking distance of their homes. San Francisco-Marin Food Bank volunteers buzzed with first-day jitters, but operations ran smoothly under lead volunteer Katie’s steady hand. 

She kept her cool through the bustle, checking in with Food Bank staff to confirm registration was ready and guiding volunteers on where unboxed produce should go. Katie even found time to set up a hand-lettered sign with the pantry’s name, a small touch that made the site feel welcoming from the start. 

Her commitment to helping her community started long before that morning.  

As a child, Katie’s mom encouraged her and her siblings to volunteer at their hometown food bank, planting the seed for a lifelong passion for giving back. About five years after moving to San Francisco, she felt compelled to spring into action again during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Food Bank launched Pop-Up Pantries across the city in response to surging need. 

Those early days, she remembers, were hectic but vital for her neighbors. “It was busy, but it was really great,” Katie says. “A lot of people were getting access to food who hadn’t had it before.” 

When Katie learned that Pop-Up Pantries would be closing due to funding cuts, she and her fellow volunteers worried about where their neighbors would turn for food. Instead of walking away, they decided to act. 

“We were disappointed and just asked, ‘Hey, what would it take to keep this going?’” she recalls. 

With the Food Bank’s guidance and a church partner providing space, Katie helped lead the effort to create a permanent food pantry. 

“Food is a basic need,” she says. “Everyone should have access to food. It’s important to me to be able to support that.” 

While she’s grateful to be able to meet the urgent need she sees now, she’s also thinking about the future: Congress voted to slash $186 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade, and the weight of those cuts is already being felt. 

“I think the one that’s really tough for me to understand is cutting food access,” Katie says. “Most people, if you talk to them, would say they support people having access to food. The thing that’s unfortunate is seeing politics hamper that. A lot of people don’t understand that cutting dollars to food banks means people will not be eating. This isn’t just stuff happening in Washington, D.C. These are decisions affecting my town, my city, my block, my neighbors.” 

Despite her frustration, Katie remains hopeful. She believes her neighbors want to help, and that once they move past the fear of committing to something, they’ll feel proud of their impact. She also sees group volunteer opportunities, like those at the Food Bank, as a way to ease the pressure. 

“If you know you won’t be alone, it’s a lot less scary,” she says. “And what’s the worst that can happen? Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you’ve still helped more people than if you did nothing.” 

 That belief is one of the many reasons Katie keeps showing up without fail.  

“Honestly, it’s been a huge help for my mental health to feel like I am part of something,” she says. “And the Food Bank’s support has made it all possible. I’m running this site, but I couldn’t do it without them. They’re the ones making sure the food is here every week.” 

“We have a voice, and I didn’t realize that.” Celebrating the First Food PAC Cohort

August 12, 2025

Amid the backdrop of the largest cut to food assistance in our nation’s history, Food Bank staff, Food Policy and Advocacy Coalition (Food PAC) members, and their loved ones came together on July 11 to celebrate the graduation of our inaugural Food PAC cohort. 

“This has been a transformative chapter,” said Policy & Advocacy Manager Alex Raffanti. “You are not just the first cohort. You are the standard, the example, and the beginning of something very, very powerful.” 

Over 18 months, Food PAC members sharpened their skills in advocacy and public speaking, and learned the ins and outs of policymaking. Drawing on their lived experience of hunger, members helped shape the questions in our Policy Survey, which directly informed the Food Bank’s 2025 Policy Agenda. This hard work culminated in a trip to Sacramento for California Hunger Action Day, where they met with legislators to advocate for policies on behalf of their neighbors. 

“When we went to Sacramento, that was such an eye-opener for me,” said Glen, a Food PAC graduate. “To actually go and speak before a representative and push for something that everybody is going to benefit from, that’s outstanding. We have a voice, and I didn’t realize that… Those people listen. They are paying attention. And I think the more we put effort into that, the more is going to come out of it.” 

Sizi, another graduate, emphasized the importance of creating space for people who have experienced hunger to be involved in policy decisions. 

“I’m super grateful for the opportunity to have a seat at the table,” she said. “Sometimes it’s tough for community members to really engage in advocacy work because of the situations we’re living through. That’s due to the systems that are in place, unfortunately. But as we engage more, I think that’s where we find the strength to really persevere.” 

Sizi also shared powerful reminder of why food banks matter, why the Food PAC’s work matters, and who this is for.  

“That’s where we get our food,” she said. “That’s where my grandma gets her food. My aunts, my cousins. So, thank you to the Food Bank for partnering with organizations that are providing healthy fruits and vegetables for our kids and for our seniors.” 

Greer spoke about how the Food PAC helped her find a sense of purpose and connection. 

“Joining the Food PAC has made such a difference in my life,” she said. “To build this community and be able to tell my story has just been life-changing for me.” 

She added, “I have enjoyed every mile that it’s taken to drive out here. And meeting everyone and developing relationships with people has just been great.” 

Before handing out certificates, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, who represents District 12 in Marin, encouraged the graduates to keep going. 

“As someone who serves in Sacramento on your behalf, I can tell you that real change happens when members of the public show up, by calling, emailing, attending committee hearings, and meeting with legislators.,” he said. “Sharing your perspectives helps us make the case not just here in the Bay Area, but across the state.” 

We’re so proud of this cohort and excited to see how they continue to lead and inspire. 

 

 

We’re currently accepting applicants for the next cohort! 

If you’re passionate about making a difference (especially if you’ve experienced food insecurity), apply now! You’ll learn advocacy skills and contribute to policy change – no prior experience needed. We require a 12-month commitment, with about 5 hours of work per month. You’ll need to speak English (reading and writing can be developed) and will be compensated $100/month. 

Apply now 

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Statement on the Passing of the Big Beautiful Bill Act

July 3, 2025

SNAP is a proven, effective program that reduces hunger and poverty, and sparks local economic development.  The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” guts SNAP and reverses decades of progress to address hunger in the US.  

This outcome is truly anguishing. Hunger is a policy choice, and there is no justification for the widespread pain that will be inflicted on millions of families with children and seniors who will struggle to put food on their tables as a result of these cruel choices guided by the politics of avarice.  

Food is a human right, and we remain committed to providing healthy food to our community and advocating policies that align with our mission — eliminating hunger and its root causes. Our Food Bank is collaborating with Feeding America, the California Association of Food Banks, and local, state, and federal leaders to monitor developments on other food security programs related to the farm bill and federal commodities funding. We will continue to advocate for the protection of critical food security programs and work to address these consequences. 

While this is a truly disappointing day, we are grateful for the ongoing support from those in our community who raised their voices to oppose these regressive measures. We are resilient and unapologetic in ensuring people have access to healthy food. We will never back away from our mission to end hunger and pursue our vision where everyone has access to nutritious food of their choosing and is uplifted by a network of support.    

 

In solidarity,  

Tanis Crosby, Executive Director 

Caring about CalFresh

April 4, 2025

At the Food Bank, we know ending hunger means disrupting its root causes, which include poverty and housing instability. Real change is impossible if we don’t tackle these issues together — a belief that was front and center at the Episcopal Community Services’ (ECS) inaugural Housing Symposium in February, where San Francisco’s leading hunger and homelessness advocates gathered to discuss solutions. 

Noriko Lim Tepper, chief officer for the Food Bank’s Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy & Voice department moderated a panel discussion on improving food security through CalFresh.  

“The symposium is gathering community and government leaders to strategize ways we can develop inclusive policies and give more people the opportunity to access social services like CalFresh and other benefits,” she said. 

Noriko was joined by Rohit Naimpally, senior director of Impact at Tipping Point Community, and Troy Brunet, a member of the Food Bank’s Food Policy Action Coalition (PAC). Each panelist brought a unique perspective on how CalFresh serves as a critical tool in the fight against poverty. 

The Impact of CalFresh 

Rohit shared Tipping Point’s research on the significance of CalFresh’s impact on hunger and poverty and details from its latest report on the issue. One key takeaway was that, when comparing multiple social safety net programs, CalFresh played the largest poverty fighting role statewide. 

CalFresh — known nationally as SNAP and formerly as ‘food stamps’ — is a cornerstone of our food safety net in California. CalFresh alone kept over 100,000 Bay Area residents from dipping below the poverty line, according to Tipping Point’s findings. Additionally, the report noted that, compared to the five most populous states in the U.S., California has the lowest percentage — at 55% — of eligible people accessing CalFresh. And, while San Francisco has the highest eligible enrollment rate in the Bay Area at 81.5%, Tipping Point’s findings showed most of the Bay Area averaged below the state at 52%. Marin’s rates weren’t included in the findings, but the county does slightly better at 58.9%, according to 2021 data from the California Department of Social Services. 

Because CalFresh is recognized for its effectiveness in addressing a root cause of hunger — poverty — increasing greater access to the program is a priority for the Food Bank. It’s why we helped pass AB518, a bill requiring California to identify people eligible but unenrolled in CalFresh and to find ways to enroll them. 

Speaking from lived experience with food insecurity and as a CalFresh recipient, Troy weighed in on why he thinks the number of CalFresh users isn’t higher. “People don’t know that they qualify and that it’s there for them,” he said.  

Troy also spoke about the enrollment process, which can be a barrier.  

“The applications are kind of long and drawn out,” he said, “and some people don’t want to fill all of that out or even have the energy to do it.”  

As a member of the Food PAC, Troy and 12 other people who have also experienced food insecurity help the Food Bank advocate for just, equitable public policies that address the root causes of hunger and strengthen the social safety net. For Troy, CalFresh especially matters.  

“CalFresh to me is very important,” said Troy. “I’m HIV positive, so I deal with a lot of health issues. Having quality, good food to eat is a big help for my health. I’ve also found a lot of seniors don’t get the access they need, and they do need to be able to eat and have quality food.” 

A Call to Action 

Looking ahead, the panel members and others at the symposium expressed concern about our vulnerable social safety net — especially CalFresh, which is at risk of federal funding cuts.  

“We just think that more needs to be done in terms of bringing attention to this issue,” said Beth Stokes, executive director of ECS.  

A Food Bank community partner, ECS focuses on the needs of the unhoused, and “food is a very, very basic need,” she continued. “For folks that are in supportive housing to be able to have easier access to hot meals, it’s quite a challenge. We do have access to the Food Bank, but we also have over two thousand units of supportive housing in the city. That means a lot of people need food.” 

A clear takeaway from the gathering was the importance of collective advocacy to ensure CalFresh remains intact. 

 “CalFresh benefits are critical for our community,” Noriko said. “It’s the first access point that people have in receiving healthy, fresh foods. People being able to access those benefits are vitally important for them to then participate and be healthy enough to just survive but be a part of a thriving economy.”  

Food Bank Hosts SF Mayoral Candidate Watch Party

October 10, 2024

Ending hunger starts with policy change, and policy change starts at the ballot box. To encourage civic engagement around the issue of hunger in the City and County of San Francisco, the Food Bank partnered with the League of Women Voters and UCSF in co-sponsoring a San Francisco Mayor Candidate Forum on Sept. 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. at UCSF’s Robertson Auditorium. That same evening, 20 community members came together for a live stream of the event at a Mayoral Forum Watch Party in the Food Bank’s Welcome Center.   

In alignment with the Food Bank’s co-sponsorship of the forum, mayoral candidates were asked how they would address food insecurity. Watch party attendee Troy Burnette, a member of the Food Bank’s new grassroots advocacy program, the Food Policy Advocacy Coalition (Food PAC) appreciated the opportunity to gather with others to discuss the candidates’ positions.  “We all need to be coming together to get a better understanding of what we need to work on, to hopefully make things better for everybody,” said Troy. “To hear the candidates speak from their own voices makes a difference on who you may lean toward to move forward and hopefully help the Food Bank.” 

Andre Aikens, Director of Programs for the Rafiki Coalition (a Food Bank partner), also noted that the location of the watch party helped underscore the reality of hunger with the policy positions on food insecurity shared by the candidates. “It connects the dots,” Andre said. “Listening to the candidates and sitting in this place kind of brings it all together so that you feel whether or not an individual actually has a plan, and this issue [hunger] is a priority as well.”  

The candidate forum and watch party are part of ongoing strategic efforts to increase awareness of the Food Bank’s public policy concerns and foster civic engagement activities around ending hunger, according to Noriko Lim-Tepper, Chief Officer for the Food Bank’s Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy and Voice (SPAV) Department. “The Food Bank values the strength and wisdom in our community. As an organization, we center our efforts on lifting the voices of people who have lived experiences with food insecurity to lead meaningful policy change,” said Noriko.   

In addition to viewing the live stream, attendees posed questions to members of the SPAV team. Discussion topics included how ranked choice voting works, aspects of the mayoral race and updates on the Food Bank’s latest policy and advocacy efforts including helping to drive statewide efforts to pass AB518, a new law that could lead to greater access to CalFresh for many eligible but unenrolled Californians. 

Over the next several months SPAV plans additional events demonstrating the Food Bank as a civic engagement gathering place. The department includes the Community Building team of Associate Director Irene Garcia, and Community Builder Jesus Benitez Gomez, and Policy & Advocacy’s Associate Director Marchon Tatmon, and Community Organizer Alex Raffanti. Learn more about Food Bank advocacy efforts at sfmfoodbank.org/advocacy. 

 

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and is prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. Our goal is to elevate the issue of hunger with candidates and the public during the election cycle.

Hunger Action Day 2024

May 16, 2024

On April 30, our Policy and Advocacy team gathered in-person with the California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC) in Sacramento to raise their voices for Hunger Action Day! Hunger Action Day is the single largest anti-hunger advocacy day in California, bringing advocates from across the state to the State Capitol to speak face-to-face with our policymakers. 

Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy Marchon, Community Organizer Alex, and Community Builder Jesus all traveled to Sacramento to represent the Food Bank. After an energetic pep rally outside of the Capitol, where we saw neighbors from partner organizations like Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) representing their communities, advocates got down to business.  

Key Demands 

This year, we lobbied in coalition for some key funding requests:

  • Increased CalFresh benefits for Californians 
  • Continued funding for Market Match, which gives CalFresh recipients $10-$15 extra dollars at farmer’s markets 
  • $60 million for food banks to purchase California-grown produce and pantry staples 
  • Increasing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to keep pace with the cost of living 
  • …and many others! 

Together other CHAC members, Marchon, Alex and Jesus shared directly with our elected officials how dwindling government support is affecting our neighbors already struggling with the high cost of living in the Bay Area and stretching food bank resources thin – emphasizing the need to double down on and invest in proven anti-hunger solutions like CalFresh.  

Staff Takeaways  

Reflecting on a jam-packed day of collaboration, Food Bank staff came away feeling energized to continue pushing for impactful, equitable policy. 

On being able to build community with other advocates, Jesus shared: “We’re able to see how interconnected all our efforts are and advocate for CalFresh, Food for All and increased funding for food banks. All of our collective efforts have an impact on our communities.” 

“It was amazing to hear everyone’s stories, and the way that they are affected and connected to the policies,” Alex added, speaking to neighbors who showed up to drive home the personal aspect of these policy and funding asks. “I hope that people feel empowered to vote positively for these measures, and that legislators are empowered by our stories.” 

One such neighbor was Ms. Liu, who showed up to advocate for fully funding Market Match – a program that helps match CalFresh shoppers’ dollars at farmer’s markets, giving an extra $10-$15 to spend on farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Personal Stories, Passionate Advocates 

Ms. Liu is a San Francisco resident, Home-Delivered Groceries participant, and an active member of TNDC’s Tenderloin Chinese Rights Association.  

She spoke passionately about Market Match’s impact on her family, telling staff of our elected officials: “My husband and I are both chronically ill, and it’s vital that we have access to fresh produce. With the closures of many Tenderloin corner stores, we highly depend on the benefits of the Market Match for fresh food within our means.” 

Since the end of CalFresh emergency allotments, Ms. Liu’s health has declined – but even that couldn’t stop her from traveling to the Capitol to advocate for better CalFresh benefits.

“I showed up today because it is imperative that they see that we are the people who are struggling,” Ms. Liu told us, gesturing to her friends and neighbors who also came to advocate. “We are elders, and many of us are chronically ill with mobility issues. We need more sustainable resources that work for us.” 

Moving the Needle on Hunger 

Thank you to all the advocates, including Ms. Liu, who spoke truth to power about the resources and support our communities need. Everyone has a right to nourishment and the ability to thrive – and our Policy and Advocacy team will continue pushing for equitable policies that uplift and support our neighbors while addressing the root causes of hunger. 

In Marchon’s words: “Can’t wait to see what we continue to do to move the needle forward!” 

 

2023 California Policy Wins

October 17, 2023

Here at the Food Bank, our mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. On its face, the solution might seem simple: provide nutritious food so people facing hunger can thrive, not just survive. But while providing food on the ground is an essential part of our services, we know it’s not enough to simply address the hunger we see today – we must also work to address its root causes and change the policies that allow hunger to continue in our communities and plan for long-term solutions.

That’s why, in partnership with our community and other supporters, our Policy and Advocacy team works to promote proposed laws and create new policies that benefit everyone. We advocate at all levels of government, from local to state to federal – and we’d like to share with you some key wins we’ve achieved in the California legislature.

“Changing policy is a marathon, not a race,” said Marchon Tatmon, associate director of policy and advocacy at our Food Bank. “Nonetheless, 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.”

California Anti-Hunger Policy Wins in 2023

 

  • CalFresh: According to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), about one in eight Californians relied on CalFresh (also known as food stamps) in 2022. The state adjusted this existing program to make it more effective, including:
    • Allocating $15 million to fund a pilot program raising the minimum CalFresh benefit to $50/month (currently, minimum benefits are $23/month).
    • Funded increased summer benefit amounts at $47 million, providing families with school-age kids more money to spend on food – a critical lifeline when free school meals disappear during summer vacation.
    • Secured $40 million to speed up the implementation of California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefits, which are similar to CalFresh benefits for undocumented immigrants.
    • Legislated reimbursement funds for skimmed CalFresh benefit dollars and increased benefit theft protection.
    • Secured $9.9 million for a broader Fruit and Vegetable pilot program giving extra CalFresh money for purchasing produce.
  • School Meals for All: Chances are, more kids are hungry than you think: according to the same report from PPIC, roughly half of the children in our state will participate in CalFresh by the age of six. Together with other activists, we successfully lobbied for more than $300 million to fully implement free school meals for all kids in California.
  • Social Security: Many older adults and adults with disabilities rely on this safety net to pay most or all of their expenses, including buying food. We helped secure a grant increase of 8.6% to raise the incomes of these vulnerable groups.
  • CalFood: Secured $60 million in funding for food banks across the state to buy California-grown produce, strengthening our local economy while also providing fresh fruits and vegetables to neighbors facing hunger.

These policy wins over the last year bring us another step closer to ending hunger – but our work isn’t done yet. In coalition with partners, participants and other activists, we’re determined to continue advocating for just, compassionate and equitable public policy that truly makes a difference for our communities.

Using His “Why”: Q&A with Jalal Alabsi

September 19, 2023

 

Jalal Alabsi is many things: he’s a formerly-practicing doctor, he’s an immigrant from Yemen, he’s a resident of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. All these identities and more come together to inform his comprehensive work to end food insecurity in his community. From securing funding for halal food vouchers to lowering stigma around accessing assistance, Jalal has collaborated with organizations like our partner Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) to help end hunger.

Jalal’s years of successful activism are exactly why our partners at TNDC suggested him when the Food Bank asked for nominees for the first-ever Elevating Voices: Power Summit. Hosted by Feeding America in Washington, D.C., the Summit brought together activists who have lived experience with food insecurity and connected them with key decision makers to discuss effective solutions to hunger.

We caught up with Jalal to hear more about the Summit and his work in the Tenderloin.

 

Food Bank (FB): Before we dig into the Elevating Voices: Power Summit, let’s hear a little more about your work in the Tenderloin.

Jalal: I’ve been working to end food insecurity in my neighborhood for over five years. I started out volunteering at different places, working as a translator for folks who speak Arabic and explaining how people can use food that they weren’t culturally familiar with – I gave people recipes for mushrooms, for example.

[But I realized] that just giving out food isn’t enough – there are bigger problems than that. So, I decided to take classes at City College [of San Francisco] to be a community health worker, where I did my research project on hunger in the Tenderloin.

Now, I’ve worked with City Hall to get $500,000 in funding for halal food vouchers so Muslims can eat their preferred foods. I’ve worked with a few organizations to start the Food Policy Council to discuss hunger in the Tenderloin. [On the ground], I work every day to decrease the stigma around accessing food assistance. And I still give food directly to my neighbors.

 

FB: What inspired you to do this work?

Jalal: I live with this every day. When I first came to the US, I had problems with hunger. I feel what people are feeling when they say they are hungry. You get sick when you don’t have enough food, you can’t live even on the street without food. And now, I’ve gotten the education to be able to do something about food insecurity.

 

FB: What are the biggest barriers to ending hunger?

Jalal: One of the biggest challenges is the stigma around getting food assistance. Many people live with this, and it means they may eat only twice a day so they can afford to live on their salaries. But I explain to people, “[food assistance] is yours, you deserve this, it’s your right”.

Another challenge is CalFresh (food stamps). People need CalFresh. But it’s such a long and confusing process to apply, especially for people that don’t speak English, that for some people it just isn’t worth it.

 

FB: Tell us about the Elevating Voices: Power Summit.

Jalal: The Summit happened on July 12 and 13, and it brought together a group of activists from across the country who have lived experience with hunger.

The first day, we met with Feeding America’s CEO, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. She wanted to hear from us: who are we, what do we do, what is the next step to end hunger? The objective was to reach a shared understanding of what the power landscape looked like – they wanted to center actual experience with hunger in finding solutions.

Overall, I would call it a long conversation. We had small breakout sessions discussing our advocacy, everything from why we do the work we do, to how we advocate for our community.

 

FB: What were your takeaways from the Summit?

Jalal: We learned how to use our “why” to create change – instead of complaining about a problem, we can turn that complaint into a policy ask. If you use your story and real examples of how you lived with hunger, if you connect feelings and emotions to suggestions for change, then you’ll be able to convince more people that your issue is important and needs to be addressed.

I met with a lot of different people with their own experience. I can see a way where we bring these learnings to San Francisco, so more people can learn how to use their experience to make change. Hunger is a huge problem. It’s different in different places, but the effects are the same.

 

FB: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Jalal: I’m grateful to the Food Bank for supporting me in going to the Summit – it was a great opportunity to make connections with people in other states so we can share information, knowledge, and strategies.

Hunger is solvable. We have the resources. We just need to figure out how to do it.