These days, the cost of everything is up, and the Central California Food Bank — like many across the country — is struggling to keep up with demand as more low-income families turn to them for assistance. Kym Dildine, who is the local food bank's co-CEO, says she expects more...
Rite Aid Commits $2 Million to Fresno Food Efforts and Youth Programs
Rite Aid's philanthropic arm, Healthy Futures, has committed $2 million to two Fresno organizations engaged in addressing food insecurity and food recovery. Part of the chain's new Strengthening Cities initiative, the funding is part of a larger $10 million, two-year commitment focused on Fresno and five other cities in...
Change in Food Bank Distribution Service Sets off Alarm Bells
COVID-19 has meant many Californians are struggling to stay healthy, keep their jobs and put food on the table. In this moment, organizations that provide food to the needy are serving more Californians than ever before. So why has the state chosen now to dramatically change the way commodities are distributed to...
City’s $10.2M Plan Addresses Hunger, COVID Spread, Small Businesses
Fresno leaders hope to protect and support the city's most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic with a $10.2 million spending plan unveiled Friday morning. The funding is from the federal CARES Act. It addresses food insecurity, the spread of the virus among Black and immigrant families, and small businesses...
Thanksgiving Food Delivery Aids Dozens of Rural Fresno Families
Volunteers delivered food to more than 70 struggling families in Fresno County's most impoverished community this week, just in time for Thanksgiving, Over three tons of fresh and non-perishable food was collected over the past several weeks for distribution in Mendota, where recent census data shows half the population lives...
California Families Are Hungry While a Third of Crops Rot in Fields
Maximina Molina Sanchez is worried about going hungry this winter. She depends on a food bank in Huron to feed her husband and two kids. But with most agricultural workers out of jobs during the winter, demand is bound to increase, so she worries there won’t be enough food to...
Why Community-Owned Grocery Stores Like Co-Ops Are the Best Recipe for Revitalizing Food Deserts
Tens of millions of Americans go to bed hungry at some point every year. While poverty is the primary culprit, some blame food insecurity on the lack of grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods. That’s why cities, states and national leaders including former first lady Michelle Obama made eliminating so-called “food...
FUSD's Surplus Food Used to Go to the Dump. Not Anymore.
Fresno Unified schools used to throw away millions of pounds of leftover food every year that students didn't eat. Now, much of that surplus is going to food pantries, homeless shelters, and other sites that feed the hungry across Fresno. The shift has been made through the efforts of Fresno...
Fresno Unified, EOC Provide Free Meals Over Winter Break
With the winter break in full effect at Fresno Unified, some students may wonder where they are going to get their next meal. FUSD and the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission are alleviating those concerns. In an effort that began Monday, any student at Fresno Unified and anyone ages 1 to 18 can...
Students Feel The Warmth of Local Generosity
With winter weather approaching, the non-profit Foundation for Central Schools gifted new coats and jackets to over 800 students across the district Wednesday. Students from 22 district schools benefited from the program this year. It's one of several annual events for Central students and families organized by the foundation. The effort...