Future funding at risk for San Benito food bank, push to affirm state’s CalFood program budget
HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Community Food Bank of San Benito County and El Nopal Bakery in Hollister urge state lawmakers to affirm the state’s CalFood program budget.
In Hollister, there’s growing uncertainty surrounding funding for their local food bank.
For nearly 50 years, El Nopal Bakery has served up food for the Hollister community. One of their most popular items is their tortillas made in-house from start to finish.
This specialty is a key part of a business partnership with the Community Food Bank of San Benito County.
"It was during the pandemic. And we were at a point where we were probably gonna have to lay some workers off of the tortilla side of the business, because restaurants were closed, and the tortilla business went way down on our side," El Nopal Bakery owner Frankie Berlanga said.
Yet, the future is now up in the air due to a potential loss of state funding for The CalFood Program.
CalMatters says the program is in danger of a $54-million-dollar drop in average annual funding at the end of June.
"We do receive that CalFood funding to buy locally, have that collaboration with the Nopal, so we see the drastic cut that relationship might, you know, go away, but we're going to find a way to find funding, different ways," Community Food Bank of San Benito Executive Director Guillermo Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez is not only worried about what it means for their partnership, but what it means for the people they serve.
“Are we going to feel something? Yes, we're going to still have the flow of giving food. Yes, we are, you know, we're going to find different avenues, different supports, Rodriguez said. "And when funding goes down, we know the community comes together and make it work.”
The food bank and El Nopal are now calling on state lawmakers to consider the impact and prevent any potential budget cuts to the program.
"We would seriously encourage the state to continue the cal food program, because it is a big necessity. It's not a luxury. It's not. it gets a necessity for people, and it's for californians," Berlanga said.
Many in the community hope the effects are minimized and their local tortillas remain available in the food bank marketplace.
The California Associations of Food Banks is planning a rally in Sacramento in May ahead of Governor Gavin Newsom’s final state budget.
