A critical lifeline for more than 18,000 San Francisco households will soon come to an end.
Earlier this month, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank announced it would shutter roughly 20 pandemic-era pop-up pantries throughout the region by 2025 and roll back enrollment in its grocery delivery program, utilized by some 13,000 households.
The pop-ups, which opened in March 2020 in response to the pandemic, became an essential service in a city where food insecurity impacts one in four San Franciscans.
But as The City re-emerges from the pandemic, the food bank said an absence of funding for emergency pandemic services meant it could no longer sustain its pop-ups — a move met with harsh rebukes from community advocates.
“Our food banks provide critical support to families with young children who are struggling under the weight of the rapid inflation,” said Erica Thorson, the senior director of the Children’s Council of San Francisco’s Family Services.
“This is the wrong time for these cuts to hit San Francisco,” she said. “Things aren’t any easier for families.”
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The Food Bank said it offered assistance to about 53,000 families suffering from food insecurity over the last three years — nearly double pre-pandemic numbers.
But as the federal government pared back several emergency programs, local programs have felt the pinch. Advocates say local leaders must put sufficient resources in place to build, staff and sustain such services.
“Food security continues to be a top concern for the thousands of families and young children we serve every year,” said Thorson, especially when societal safety nets are under immense strain as federal funds dwindle.
“Some of those new and expanded ways of getting food to people were needed even before the pandemic, so it is heartbreaking to see these interventions and other resources being cut off,” said Lillian Mark, Glide’s senior director of programs.
Officials with the San Francisco Human Services Agency told The Examiner that $89.5 million in local funding will support their food security programs over the next two years as part of San Francisco’s budget. Specifically, the money will go towards community-based organizations’ food pantries, grocery vouchers, meals and markets for some of The City’s neediest groups.
“Having sufficient resources to build and sustain these services is critical, as well as a coordinated approach between City and community-based organizations to reach every resident in San Francisco,” Mark said.
