San Diego Hunger Coalition

It takes all of us — including our elected leaders — to make sure no one in San Diego goes hungry. 🏛️

Our President & CEO Alondra Alvarado recently met with Congresswoman Representative Sara Jacobs to talk about what's at stake with federal SNAP/CalFresh cuts and what we can do to protect our neighbors' access to food.

With devastating cuts on the table, having advocates in Congress fighting for our community matters more than ever. We're grateful for Congresswoman Jacobs' partnership and her commitment to ensuring San Diegans can put food on the table. 🧡

Did you know more than 1 in 4 San Diegans are experiencing nutrition insecurity? Access to nutritious meals is still out of reach for too many children, older adults, and people with disabilities across our region.

This CalFresh Awareness Month, we’re shining a light on the realities of hunger in San Diego County — and the importance of connecting eligible individuals and families to food assistance resources like CalFresh.

Ending hunger takes all of us. Together, we can help build a healthier, more food-secure community. 💙

Learn more about CalFresh at sdhunger.org/calfresh

Thanks to generous support from the San Diego Woman’s Club, we were able to distribute food assistance flyers to nearly 9,000 residents living in communities with some of the highest rates of nutrition insecurity. ��Using a data-informed approach, our goal is to connect residents, especially in rural areas, to local partners and raise awareness for available food assistance.

It's because of funders like San Diego Woman's Club that we can fuel our efforts to ensure every San Diegan has access to 3 nutritious meals daily. 🧡

This week, our President & CEO Alondra Alvarado and Research Manager Joseph Kendrick presented at the California Association of Food Banks' Food Access Conference in Sacramento, sharing how we use local hunger data to advocate for our community at every level of government.

One of our most powerful tools? Hunger data broken down by zip code and by electoral district in San Diego County. This means legislators get reliable, actionable numbers about the people they represent. It’s how our leaders make informed decisions and know where to allocate resources.

None of this is possible without our incredible partners. A huge thank you to Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank for their collaboration and for sharing local data that makes this possible. Together, we are fighting for a Hunger Free San Diego!

Visit our Research Center to learn more: sdhunger.org/research

Housing instability and food insecurity are basic needs that are part of the same fight. 💪 🧡

Last week, our CEO & President Alondra Alvarado joined partners from the Basic Needs Coalition at the San Diego County Administration Building to address a stark reality for our region:

- Local households need to earn approximately $50 per hour to afford average rent prices
- Rents have surged 22% in five years
- San Diego is short 130,000 affordable homes
- 1 in 4 of our neighbors can't afford three meals a day

With federal cuts looming, now is not the time to step back. We're calling on California's Legislature to invest in ongoing CalFood funding and strengthen CalFresh Outreach.

Thank you to San Diego Housing Federation for bringing this coalition together. 📊 Read the 2026 Affordable Housing Needs Report by the California Housing Partnership:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6bd016f9a61e52e8379751/t/6a06b80fdfc92b4005649234/1778825231332/San+Diego_Housing_Report_2026.pdf

SUN Bucks cards start mailing Monday, May 18! 📬

Make sure your mailing address is up to date and keep an eye out for your card in the coming weeks. These cards will have $120 per eligible child in the household!

Visit the following sites below for more information:
SUN Bucks Card Delivery Dates - https://cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/how-to-get-sun-bucks
SUN Bucks Additional Information and Resources - https://www.sdhunger.org/sun-bucks

Join us next week for Part 1 of our CalFresh 101 Training! 🍎

This free and virtual training is perfect for those new to CalFresh or anyone needing a refresher on program updates.

What You'll Learn:
⚡ Eligibility guidelines and the application process
⚡ Client advocacy and follow-up strategies
⚡ Tips for serving older adults, houseless individuals, college students, and immigrants

📅 Part I: Wednesday, May 20th | 2:00PM -4:00 PM
📅 Part II: Wednesday, May 27th | 2:00PM -4:00 PM
✅ Register now: https://www.sdhunger.org/trainings

Don't miss this opportunity to gain essential skills and better serve your community! 💪

Join us next week for our Hunger Free Navigator Training!🍎

It's a free, virtual training for anyone interested in learning more about food assistance resources in San Diego County.

📅 Date: Monday, May 18th at 1:00 PM
🕘 Where: Zoom
✅What You’ll Gain:
Knowledge about key food assistance programs, including CalFresh, WIC, School Meals, Sun Bucks, meals for older adults, and food distributions.

👉 Register now: sdhunger.org/hunger-free-navigator

✅Want to support our work ? Help us keep advocating and educating the community by making a donation to SDHC. Link in our bio!

Let’s clear up some common CalFresh misconceptions. 💬

During CalFresh Awareness Month, we’re breaking down the facts so you can make informed decisions for yourself and your family.

✔️ CalFresh is NOT a public charge
✔️ If you’re eligible, you will receive benefits
✔️ You can apply on behalf of eligible household members
✔️ You always have the right to apply

There’s a lot of misinformation out there—but the truth matters.
Swipe through to learn more and get the facts.

🔗 Get help applying: sdhunger.org/applying-for-calfresh

Did you know CalFresh offers more than just help with groceries? 👀

During CalFresh Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the extra benefits that come with being enrolled—like:
🎟️ Free or reduced museum admission
💡 Savings on energy, phone, and childcare
🥕 Bonus food programs and grocery perks

Swipe through to see how far your benefits can go and learn about programs that can support your household in more ways than one.

🔗 Explore more resources: https://linktr.ee/sdhccalfresh