The Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin is warning that the shutdown of the federal government is leading to a shortfall in food shipments.
The shutdown, in its 24th day Friday with no end in sight, is only the latest challenge for a crucial regional food lifeline. The food bank, like others around the country, has been trying to cope with government donation cutbacks for much of the year.
Leaders at the food bank say it caters to the more than 83,000 people in San Joaquin County who are deemed food insecure, almost 11% of county residents.
The food bank, which distributes from 107 sites in the county, warned in a social media post this week that “amid the ongoing government shutdown, we’re facing tens of thousands of pounds in food shortages.” The operation continues to assemble thousands of food boxes to help those in need — but says it needs cash donations to maintain volume.
In an interview with Stocktonia, CEO Leonard Hansen said government-provided food has been in short supply much of the year due to cuts in food programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The food bank has seen a reduction of 30,000 pounds of donated food a week, he said, which forces it to buy more food to make up for as much of the shortfall as it can.
Last year, the Emergency Food Bank distributed 7.2 million pounds of food.
“We’re struggling, but we’ve never missed a distribution day,” Hansen said.
More than $1 billion has been slashed from the USDA’s budget that bought food for donation centers and school meals nationwide. In light of the shutdown and the food cutbacks, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he will deploy the California National Guard and California Volunteers to aid the state’s food banks.
“This is serious, this is urgent – and requires immediate action. Millions of Americans rely on food benefits to feed their families, and while Republicans in Washington drag their feet, California is stepping up once again to fill in the gaps,” he said in a statement.
At Stockton’s Emergency Food Bank, the goal is to provide those in need with a box containing a pound of rice and a pound of beans, peanut butter and cereal as basic sustenance — plus fruits and vegetables. The produce is becoming harder to come by as well. Clients still receive the food, but they may sometimes receive less than normal.
“We keep extending the search,” Hansen said. “Trucks are going to Turlock, Atwater” and other far-flung farm districts to find vegetables that are being donated or that can be bought at reasonable prices. “We’re beating every bush we can.”
Despite a tough year for food banks, Hansen can point to one bright spot: Thanksgiving turkeys.
With a little more than a month to go before the holiday, Hansen said the food bank has been buying turkeys and freezing them away all year to be ready for the big day.
“We’re in good shape,” he said. “We always have turkeys for our clients.”