California Association Of Food Banks

CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS ("THE ORGANIZATION") IS A NON PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION LOCATED IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. TOGETHER WITH ITS 41-MEMBER FOODBANKS, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE LARGEST CHARITABLE HUNGER-RELIEF AND ANTI-HUNGER LEADER IN THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION PURSUES ITS MISSION OF ENDING HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH PROGRAMS FORTIFYING THE CHARITABLE AND PUBLIC NUTRITION SAFETY NETS AND SUPPORTING THE COLLECTIVE SUCCESS OF ITS MEMBERS. IN 2021 THE ORGANIZATION ADOPTED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, CENTERING ITS CORE PRIORITIES ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO FOOD BANKS RECEIVING INCREASED VOLUMES AND VARIETIES OF FRESH PRODUCE, BECOMING THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON FOOD SECURITY IN CALIFORNIA, DEVELOPING CATALYST PROGRAMS FOR FOOD BANKS TO SERVE HARD-TO-REACH POPULATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR ANTI-HUNGER LEGISLATION AND SUSTAINED ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE STATE.

FARM TO FAMILY AND EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPLY MORE THAN 235 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO FOOD BANKS. THIS INCLUDED MORE THAN 212 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND 23 MILLION POUNDS OF QUALITY PROTEINS AND PANTRY ESSENTIALS TO KEEP FOOD BANKS STOCKED DURING THE UNPRECEDENTED HUNGER CRISIS. THE ORGANIZATION'S FARM TO FAMILY OPERATION IS THE NATION'S MOST EXTENSIVE CHARITABLE FOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE PROGRAM'S INFRASTRUCTURE PROVED CRITICAL TO PROVIDING IN-THE-MOMENT HUNGER RELIEF TO CALIFORNIANS THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND TO THE TIMELY SUPPPLY OF OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS PPE AND COLD STORAGE.

CALFRESH AND PUBLIC BENEFITS OUTREACH PROGRAMS CALFRESH IS CALIFORNIA'S NAME FOR SNAP (FORMERLY "FOOD STAMPS"), RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. THE ORGANIZATION'S CALFRESH OUTREACH PROGRAM SUPPORTS OVER 50 COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ENROLL ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIANS, HELP THEM KEEP THEIR BENEFITS, AND EDUCATE THE OUTREACH AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY. IN 2021, PRIORITIES INCLUDED SUPPORTING OUTREACH WORKERS THROUGH COMPLEX RULE CHANGES AND THE HISTORIC SURGE IN NEW APPLICATIONS FOR CALFRESH AND PANDEMIC ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER CARDS ("P-EBT"). ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CONDUCTING REMOTE ONLINE OUTREACH TRAINING AND PREPARING TRANSLATIONS OF DISASTER SNAP OUTREACH MATERIALS.

ADVOCACY AND SAFETY NET SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATOIN'S ADVOCACY TEAM LEADS THE FIGHT TO ERADICATE FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA, ADVANCING LEGISLATIVE AND BUDGET INITIATIVES AND CONDUCTING ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO PRIORITIZE EQUITY IN STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE NUTRITION SAFETY NETS. THE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN FOOD BANKS AND PUBLIC BENEFITS ADEQUACY AND IMPROVEMENTS. IN 2021 ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOCUSED ON SECURING RECORD AMOUNTS OF EMERGENCY FOOD FOR FOOD BANKS ACROSSTHE STATE, INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING TO HELP INCREASE FOOD BANK CAPACITY, ADOVCATING FOR P-EBT BENEFITS TO FEED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND ADVOCATING PASSAGE OF ANTI-HUNGER LEGISLATION THAT SEEKS TO CHANGE POLICIES WHICH SYSTEMATICALLY PERPETUATE HUNGER IN BLACK, LATIN, AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNICATIONTHE ORGANIZATOIN IS COMMITTED TO RAISING PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITIES' UNDERSTANDING OF HUNGER AND ITS HEALTH AND SOCIAL IMPACTS. THIS INCLUDES LIFTING UP ESSENTIAL WORK OF FOOD BANKS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT FOOD ACCESS ISSUES,CALFRESH AND OTHER PUBLIC NUTRITION BENEFITS, AND POLICY PRIORITIES TO PERMANENTLY END HUNGER IN CALIFORNIA.