#MemberMonday: Yolo Food Bank

Nestled in the northern tip of California’s Central Valley, just outside the state’s capital, Yolo County is home to Yolo Food Bank. Despite being one of the nation’s most prolific agricultural regions, Yolo County paradoxically faces the highest poverty rate in California. Amidst these challenging circumstances, Yolo Food Bank stands as a bulwark, tirelessly working to alleviate food insecurity and support their community. Each month, Yolo Food Bank serves over 30,000 households and distributes more than 9 million pounds of food annually. Their mission is clear: work as a community to meet the food and nutrition needs of Yolo County.

Programs

At Yolo Food Bank, their efforts are anchored by four major programs, each tailored to meet specific needs within their community.

Their Public Community Food Distributions offer healthy produce, dairy, meat, bread, and non-perishable grocery items to more than 9,000 households across 19 locations in Yolo County.

The food and utilities I receive help my family out a lot. I can get eggs, fish, meat, fresh fruit, and other necessities for both myself and my grandchildren.”

XiaoPing: A senior resident of Yolo County and food recipient

Launched during the height of the pandemic, Yolo Food Bank’s Private Community Food Distributions program delivers groceries directly to more than 1,000 low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and mobility-restricted residents, providing essential support to those who need it most.

By bringing fresh, healthy food directly to local elementary schools, preschools, and high schools, their Student Farmers Markets create a fun and interactive environment for over 1,800 students on a monthly basis. This program addresses food insecurity, enhances nutrition education, and reduces the stigma often associated with receiving free food.

Yolo Food Bank’s newest program, Cultivo, provides groceries directly to agricultural workers at their home and at their work (fields, farms, packing plants, and canneries). Sponsored by Sutter Health, Cultivo is a direct response to the alarming over 50% food insecurity rate among agricultural workers in the county, ensuring those who work to put food on our tables have access to the culturally-appropriate food they need.

Partnering for Impact

Collaboration is at the heart of Yolo Food Bank’s work. They partner with a vast network of 68 local agencies, including pantries, churches, and other nonprofits. These partners source between 60% and 80% of their food from Yolo Food Bank, amplifying the charitable food system’s impact throughout the community.

We at CAFB are proud to have Yolo Food Bank as one of our 41 member food banks. Every day, we work together in our mission to end hunger in California.

“As food banks’ primary advocate at both the state and federal levels, CAFB plays a crucial role in securing the funding and resources we need to continue our work, while also making sure that government programs aimed at alleviating food insecurity, like CalFresh, are funded.”

–Yolo Food Bank

The Yolo County Food Access Survey

In April, Yolo Food Bank released the findings from their comprehensive, multi-year Yolo County Food Access Survey. The results were both enlightening and alarming, revealing that 29% of Yolo County residents face food insecurity. This figure shows that while they’ve made significant progress in their mission, significant gaps still remain. With this new data, they are better prepared to fill those gaps in partnership with their community.

Recently we have had our CalFresh allotment significantly cut. Then with rising inflation and food costs we just can’t keep up. We’re just scraping by to pay our bills, when it comes to food, we need Yolo Food Bank.”

Liberty, a recipient at Public Community Food Distributions, pictured with her daughter

Among the survey’s most significant findings was the gap between food insecurity and enrollment in CalFresh (known as SNAP nationally, formerly known as food stamps, CalFresh provides assistance for individuals and households to purchase nutritious food). While 29% of residents experience food insecurity, 19% are enrolled in CalFresh benefits. This disparity is even more pronounced in marginalized communities: while 48% of Black and African American residents reported experiencing food insecurity, 25% are receiving CalFresh. Additionally, among Latine households, they found a 47% food insecurity rate, paired with a 24% enrollment rate for CalFresh.

The survey also highlighted the deep inequities faced by agricultural workers, with 53% of these households reporting food insecurity. This paradox, where those who contribute the most to our food supply struggle to access adequate nutrition themselves, prompted Yolo Food Bank to take action. Yolo Food Bank launched the Cultivo program, funded by Sutter Health, to meet the unique needs of their agricultural workers by bringing food directly to their workplaces and residences. You can see the full Yolo County Food Access Survey Report at yolofb.org/foodsurvey.

Receiving food from Yolo Food Bank allows me to allocate money to other basic necessities that I have, it’s a huge weight off my shoulders. I have three young children at home to feed, and they’re going to be so happy to see all this delicious produce.”

Valeria (pictured left), a farmworker in Yolo, CA and an attendee of a Cultivo distribution

Supporters

Yolo Food Bank is powered by the tremendous support they receive from their community, which includes generous food donors, financial contributors, and their cherished volunteers. Almost 90% of their food supply is donated, making them one of the only food banks in Northern California that overwhelmingly relies on the generosity of their local food donors. However, rising food prices and tighter grocery store inventories have recently led to them having to purchase twice as much food as in previous years. 

Their dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of Yolo Food Bank, playing a leading role in the operation of their programs. With a network of over 2,000 volunteers, their contributions amounted to an astounding $1.1 million in volunteer hours last fiscal year.

We’re a community, we need to help each other…it’s the only way we are going to survive.”

Lisa Anderson: Lead Volunteer, Public Community Food Distribution in Dunnigan, CA

Looking Ahead

While Yolo Food Bank has made significant strides in meeting the food and nutrition needs of Yolo County, to them it is clear there is much more work to be done. The findings from the Yolo Food Bank Food Access Survey and their on-the-ground experiences reveal that many residents still do not have the food necessary to live happy and healthy lives. Meeting this need will be a long and hard endeavor, but in partnership with CAFB, their partner agencies, and all other food insecurity advocates, they see a bright future ahead.

“CAFB’s dedication to meeting the food and nutrition needs of Californians is incredible, and Yolo Food Bank is deeply grateful for their support.“

–Yolo Food Bank

This blog post was authored by Yolo Food Bank and all images and quotes are provided by Yolo Food Bank. You can learn more about them at their website, or follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.