photo credit: Redwood Empire Food Bank

Food and fuel prices have stabilized, but with the calendar turning, hunger and food insecurity remain throughout Sonoma County.

Inflation at the grocery store, expiring pandemic assistance, unexpected disasters all play a role in turning people to food banks, but David Goodman, CEO of the Redwood Empire Food Bank, said focusing on the specific reasons for food insecurity isn’t always key.

"Rather than looking at like what's put people here, what has happened that's allowed people to get outta here?" Goodman asked. "Can any of us point to anything that says, well, that's a great way for people to get out."

In recent months, Goodman said the food bank has seen a steady rise in the number of people accessing food assistance.

"In September, we were serving 57,000 people every single month in Sonoma County," Goodman said. "That's a lot; and then in October we were serving 59,000; and then in November it's 62,000. And if we look at the average last year, it was 45,000."

While the expiration of pandemic era assistance and protections has raised concerns about the evaporation of a robust social safety net, Goodman said he feels the end of pandemic aid doesn’t perfectly equate for the uptick in residents served by the food bank.

"Many people found food assistance necessary during that time, and now life has gone back to normal and they've always been living on the margin," Goodman said. "And now they just know that there's help available."

Goodman said specific moves like establishing community kitchens and distribution centers, and increased assistance from local governments, could have immediate impacts on food insecurity within Sonoma County.

The harder part, he said, is actually making the change happen.

"The time is now to engage, to help do whatever you can to help your neighbors in need," Goodman said. "This is Sonoma County, California. We can be anything we want to be. We could be a Hunger-Free county."