“45 years in operation is a wonderful accomplishment, but we recognize that we exist because there is a need, and seeing food insecurity rise is quite sobering. We see a future where all community members are fed adequate meals to sustain an active lifestyle, but as of now, that is still not happening,” said Joanna Solorio, Interim Chief Executive Officer at FARSB. “Food is a right, and we must continue to work with city, county, and state officials to address this issue fully if we want to have sustainable, equitable access to nutritious food for all.” Solorio continued.
With 530,000 food-insecure people in the IE, not everyone is getting the food they need for peak health and to sustain their busy lives as working parents, college students, or developing children. The food bank serves an average of 300,000 people each month; however, with an existing gap and an increase in need, there is clear cause for action to boost food security for families.
FARSB operates alongside nearly 250 community partners to serve Riverside and San Bernardino counties and has seen a significant increase in need in both areas over the past few years, with funding cuts, social program changes, and rising cost-of-living all exacerbating the issue. This rise signifies the current need for food banks, while highlighting the unfortunate reality of growing hunger and food insecurity within the region.
For more information about FARSB’s hunger-relief efforts, please visit www.FeedingIE.org
