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Palo Alto hearing spotlights rising food insecurity; nonprofits and state senator describe surge in demand
Summary
Local nonprofits and a state senator told the Human Relations Commission that rising prices, housing costs and federal cuts have increased demand for food assistance — one community drive gathered about 10,000 pounds of donations — and providers asked the city to help with volunteers, funding and outreach.
Local nonprofits told the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission on Dec. 11 that demand for food assistance is growing and that local programs are stretched thin.
Panelists from Avenidas, La Comida, the South Palo Alto Food Closet and Peninsula Healthcare Connection described a patchwork of services that together deliver thousands of meals and pantry items each year while relying heavily on volunteers and short-term grants. "We ended up being about 10,000 pounds of food," State Senator Becker said of a recent community drive that his office organized, a turnout he called a sign both of local generosity and of mounting need.
Christina Lugo, chief executive of Avenidas, said the senior services nonprofit has begun a recurring food drive and expanded grocery delivery…
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