PG&E Foundation Donates $250,000 To Support California Food Banks, Including Contra Costa County

The PG&E Corporation Foundation has awarded $250,000 to the California Association of Food Banks’ Emergency Response Fund, aiming to ease the unprecedented strain food banks are facing as demand surges to levels not seen since the pandemic. The spike in need is tied to the ongoing federal government shutdown and delays in SNAP (CalFresh) benefits, leaving thousands of families relying more heavily on local food assistance.

The Emergency Response Fund supports a statewide network of 42 food banks and more than 5,000 partner pantries and community organizations. Funding helps food banks purchase bulk food, secure vital supplies, and bring on additional staff to keep operations running as more households seek help.

Food banks across California were already serving roughly six million people a month before the shutdown. With demand climbing even higher, the PG&E Foundation’s grant aims to strengthen frontline hunger-relief organizations and encourage additional support from the business community.

The contribution is part of PG&E’s Better Together Giving Program, which invests in emergency preparedness, food insecurity relief, environmental stewardship and other initiatives designed to build safer, more resilient communities.

Of the $250,000 grant, funds will be distributed among 38 California food banks, including:

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley – $18,700
• San Francisco-Marin Food Bank – $11,890
• Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano – $13,920
• Alameda County Community Food Bank – $12,510
• Redwood Empire Food Bank – $5,460
• Community Action of Napa Valley – $3,280