The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is preparing for funding cuts to federal programs that help the agency obtain fresh food for its clients.
Foodbank CEO Erik Talkin said the estimated cost of the funding cuts and cancellations to its resources is $1.5 million.
So far, he said, the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) has been frozen, and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) has been canceled. Additionally, there are proposed cuts to CalFood, which provides state funds to food banks to buy California-grown food.
Talkin said the cuts come when the food bank is helping more people. Despite rising inflation and a higher number of clients, the organization will have fewer resources to help.
“This is the first disaster where there’s more need and less help,” Talkin said. “Usually, when you have a disaster, there is more need and more help. So that’s a new world that we’re living in.”
Last year, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provided food to 213,984 clients and distributed 12.1 million pounds of food. Produce made up more than 4 million pounds of that food, according to the nonprofit organization’s annual report.
About 60% of the households relying on the programs live in the North County.
Santa Barbara has the second-highest poverty level among California’s 58 counties. It is estimated that 17% of residents cannot afford basic needs, including food. That number climbs to 20% for children.
Talkin said the number of clients has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. People needing help doubled during that period, and even after the pandemic ended, the total number is 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Talkin said funding cuts to CalFresh food assistance (also known as SNAP) and rising food costs will likely drive people to the Foodbank.
“(When) people get their SNAP cut, then they go to the Foodbank. They can’t get their food through that program, then they come to us. So, that will mean a significant increase,” Talkin said. “So, we’ve always relied on the federal government to provide us with support and help, and now we have a situation where the federal government is actively working to remove that help.”
Even though the cuts will have a massive effect on the Foodbank, Talkin said he hopes the Trump administration realizes that people rely on those programs and changes course.
He added that the cuts also will affect local farmers who are paid with funding provided by the government programs.
Talkin said the Foodbank is working to localize how it resources food. The plans are in the early stages, he added, but the long-term goal is to make the organization more resilient and independent.
In the meantime, Talkin said the Foodbank is doing everything it can to provide for the county and its residents. Even though he called the cuts a “disaster,” he said the Foodbank has weathered disasters in the past.
“We want people to know that the bank will be there to support anyone who needs food in the entire county, but that we do need the help and support of everyone in the community to make that possible,” Talkin said.
Anyone who would like to donate or volunteer can visit the Foodbank’s website for more information.