Food Bank for Monterey County to get emergency funding as number served quadruples

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Food Bank for Monterey County is getting some extra support during the coronavirus pandemic.

The county's Board of Supervisors approved $250,000 in support to help the agency refill supplies.

The county said the number of people the food bank serves has quadrupled since the coronavirus pandemic started.

"There are many nonprofit agencies on the front line of this crisis, but few directly meet basic needs for residents throughout the county the way the Food Bank can," said Monterey County Supervisor John Phillips. "The Food Bank appealed to the County for help when they were overwhelmed by those needing a source of food due to the recent, dramatic economic shift. Their shelves were bare. We have answered their call for help, and we hope others will as well."

The county usually gives some annual support to the Food Bank. This extra funding is in addition to the normal support and is being taken from the county's cannabis tax revenue account.

The food bank is starting new efforts as well, such as working at schools to provide basic items and produce for families with children who receive lunches and operating drive-thru and senior-only sites.