Will USDA cuts affect Sacramento-area food banks? Officials say there's ‘uncertainty'
Sacramento-area food banks are preparing for a period of uncertainty, following federal funding cuts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture officials announced the cuts earlier this week, stating, in part, that programs created under the Biden Administration 'no longer effectuate the goals of the agency', according to a Fresno Bee report.
Food bank officials in the Sacramento region are facing this funding loss at the same time they are seeing increased need.
Elk Grove Food Bank Executive Director Marie Jachino said 'all across the board, it's going to affect everybody.'
The Elk Grove Food Bank, which is considered one of the largest food pantries in Sacramento County, serves about 8,000 people per month, Jachino said, adding that she's already seen an uptick in senior patrons due to rising rent and potential Social Security cuts.
'There are so many food insecure seniors and hungry seniors,' Jachino said. 'That would probably be my biggest topic right now is how it's going to affect families. …All the food pantries in Sacramento County are going to be hurt once those cuts trickle down to the pantry level.'
She added: 'We're gonna see a big increase. We already have, but I think we're gonna see even more.'
Dave Martinez, executive director of Feeding the Foothills, formerly Placer Food Bank, said the cuts are likely to result in a 50% reduction in funding and a 75% loss of food amounting to more than 500,000 pounds no longer being distributed to communities in need.
The cuts are expected to affect their ability to serve lower-income communities, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, he said.
Martinez emphasized the need for community support to reinvest in food through the California Association of Food Banks, which costs about 15-20 cents per pound. He said he doesn't expect the federal budget cuts to trickle down into the state and local level for another six to eight months.
'There is uncertainty,' Martinez said. 'We are making every effort to let our communities know that their support would be hugely impactful for the upcoming crisis of reduction of food and funds, and that will allow us to reinvest additional donations into getting other types of food.'
Sacramento Food Bank Director of Communications Kevin Buffalino said 'There's a lot of uncertainty in federal funding right now for food banks.'
At the Sacramento Food Bank, specifically, Buffalino said he is confident in providing resources in the 'immediate future' but believes pantries will feel the effects of the cuts beginning in 2026.
Like Martinez, Buffalino said he hopes to fill the gap with private donations and the support of the community, otherwise the food bank will have to adjust the food quantity they distribute.
'We have great support from local organizations and businesses,' Buffalino said. 'So although it's not certain where that funding is going to come from, we are confident that we can hopefully find it in other places, and our community can step up to help support our organization and our neighbors in need.'
Buffalino said those conversations about what will happen in 2026 have begun and that 'there's no need for our neighbors in need, or partner agencies to stress about where they can receive services.'
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