In response to the federal government shutdown and the resulting pause in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Sierra Health Foundation has launched a rapid-response Food4All initiative to address urgent food insecurity across Northern and Central California. This week, $350,000 in emergency grants have been awarded to 13 nonprofit organizations, churches, clinics and other community organizations with deep roots in the North State, Sacramento region and San Joaquin Valley to quickly access and distribute food to the most impacted individuals and families.
More than 5 million Californians—primarily families with children, older adults and people with disabilities—access food benefits through the state’s CalFresh/SNAP program. The Food4All effort is a two-phase strategy. The first phase provides immediate emergency support to families and furloughed workers who have not received pay due to the shutdown. The second phase will build on existing partnerships with local food banks and trusted community organizations to develop a longer-term response should the pause in benefits continue.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in need at the beginning of the month, and our goal is to bridge the gap until SNAP benefits and pay for furloughed workers resume,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation. “Food insecurity is a public health issue, and we are committed to ensuring families have access to culturally appropriate, nutritious food, especially during the holidays when schools are closed and children lose access to free meals.”
Grants were deployed swiftly through Sierra Health Foundation’s established network of partners, many of whom have been working for years to address food insecurity and are well-positioned to respond.
“This funding allows us to expand our culturally relevant food distribution program to reach more families in rural areas who are often overlooked,” said Margarita Rocha, executive director of Centro La Familia Advocacy Services. “We’re grateful for the trust and flexibility to meet our community’s needs.”
“We’ve already seen lines growing at our weekly food distribution center, and this support means we can supplement our partnership with the Sacramento Food Bank to keep up with demand and ensure no one goes hungry,” said Pastor Les Simmons, senior pastor at South Sacramento Christian Center. “It’s about dignity, access and ensuring no one is left feeling alone or without support during this moment.”
“When crisis and urgent needs arise, we must act with speed and care. This grant empowers us to implement a proven Emergency Financial Assistance program, enhance access to food resource information and support food pantries on the front line of food insecurity in our region,” said Kalie Brisbon, president and CEO of United Way of Northern California. “We are grateful for investments that recognize the unique needs of the rural people of Northern California.”
The Food4All initiative reinforces Sierra Health Foundation’s long-standing commitment to addressing food security as a core component of community health, particularly in food deserts, where community members already face limited access to healthy, affordable food. The effort builds on lessons learned from current and past programs such as the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, Healthy Sacramento Coalition and Family Meal initiative, which successfully leveraged relationships with local restaurateurs and community-based organizations to deliver meals during the COVID pandemic to diverse populations in ways that respected cultural preferences and household needs.
As efforts like Food4All bridge the gap left by disrupted government services and employment, building deeper cross-sector relationships will be critical to strengthening food systems and community resilience. Many communities face barriers to accessing food due to cultural differences, and trusted partners are essential in overcoming those challenges.
To learn more, contact info@sierrahealth.org.