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
O: 415-282-1900, ext. 292,
C: 415-792-8346
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