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Newsroom

At the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, we believe food security is a universal need.
As the region’s largest hunger-relief organization, we serve as a critical lifeline for 400,000 people every month across San Diego County. Through a combination of direct programs and a network of more than 450 nonprofit partners, we provide food assistance to individuals and families facing food insecurity, while also advocating for systemic change and building a healthier, more resilient community.

Media Contact

For media and press inquiries, please contact:

Arika Daniels
Senior Director of Communications
adaniels@sandiegofoodbank.org
858-863-5216

Announcements

Shutdown Ends — Thank You, San Diego

November 12, 2025 November 13, 2025

Continued Federal Government Shutdown and CalFresh: Our Statement

October 22, 2025 November 13, 2025

San Diego Food Bank Stands Strong Amid Federal Government Shutdown

September 30, 2025 November 12, 2025

$25,000 Cox Charities Grant Expands Food Assistance for Military and Veteran Families

September 9, 2025 September 9, 2025

San Diego Seals and Hollandia Dairy Donate 800 Gallons of Milk

August 26, 2025 August 28, 2025

Senator Schiff Tours Food Bank Amid Federal Food Assistance Cuts

August 15, 2025 August 27, 2025

Pagination

1 2 3 4 →

Press Releases

Meals on Wheels San Diego County and San Diego Food Bank Expand Food Access for Homebound Seniors With First-Of-Its-Kind Grocery Delivery Program

January 15, 2026

Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank Celebrates New Permanent North County Home with Ribbon Cutting

January 12, 2026

San Diego FC Launches “One City, One Table” to Support Families Across San Diego This Holiday Season

November 19, 2025

Thousands of San Diegans Receive Emergency Food Assistance at Snapdragon Stadium Amid Federal Shutdown

November 2, 2025

READ MORE

Stories

Grandma Ann Nourishes Family, Neighbors, and Holiday Traditions Through the Food Bank

Where Compassion Meets Efficiency: How the Food Center Connects Community Through Partnership

At 96, Loretta Finds Sustenance and Connection Through the Food Bank

Food Drive

The Life of a Red Barrel: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Food Drives

A Lifeline of Hope: How Food Assistance Gave Melissa a Second Chance

Summer Without School Meals: One Family’s Balancing Act

Hungry for change?

Fuel your impact with the latest news and updates from the San Diego Food Bank.

News Bites

Sen. Schiff tours San Diego Food Bank, predicts ‘more hunger’ due to Trump cuts

Times of San Diego | August 13, 2025

SD Food Bank prepared despite reduced federal aid, greater local demand

Times of San Diego | August 10, 2025

CBS 8 wins San Diego Food Bank’s 2025 ‘Guac-Off’ Challenge

CBS 8 | July 31, 2025

Cuts to SNAP nutrition aid are coming. What San Diegans need to know

inewsource | July 16, 2025

San Diego food assistance organizations see demand increase amid federal cuts to nutrition programs

KPBS | July 16, 2025

A powerful opportunity to make twice the impact for neighbors facing hunger. 💙
Through Wednesday, every gift to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is matched dollar for dollar — up to $100,000 — thanks to the generosity of Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. That means $50 becomes 200 meals and $100 becomes 400 meals for families, seniors, veterans, and students across San Diego County.

As the community looks ahead to 2026, the Food Bank is preparing for ongoing need, seasonal challenges, and potential emergencies. Now is the moment to step forward — by giving, by volunteering, and by standing with neighbors who rely on this vital safety net.

Donations and volunteer opportunities are available at https://sandiegofoodbank.org/. Together, we can start the new year strong and ensure help is there when it is needed most.
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Original Air Date: Monday, December 29, 2025 | Source: KUSI (Downloaded via TVEyes)
Double Your Impact: $100,000 Matching Challenge for San Diego Families
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai41RDUzRjJFQ0Y0MUI3NzU1
In this powerful episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard, Assemblymember David Alvarez sits down with Casey Castillo, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank, to expose the real face of hunger in San Diego — a crisis affecting 848,000 people, including teachers, seniors, nurses, military families, and children.

Casey reveals what hunger actually looks like today, why 1 in 4 San Diegans can’t reliably afford food, and how the Food Bank stepped up when 400,000 SNAP recipients and 150,000 federal/military workers were left without support during the 43-day federal shutdown — the longest in U.S. history.

You’ll hear stories from the front lines, including the emotional $1 donation from a woman who had been helped by the Food Bank before, reminding us why every dollar matters.

We also dive into:
● The rising cost of living, food inflation & credit card debt crushing families
● How seniors are among the hardest hit and why demand for support is skyrocketing
● How 450+ nonprofit partners help distribute 53 million pounds of food a year
● Volunteer opportunities, food drives, and the Food Bank’s 45th annual holiday campaign
● What California can do at the policy level to close the food insecurity gap
 
If you want to support, volunteer, donate, or find food resources, visit SanDiegoFoodBank.org.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – The $1 donation that changed everything
00:28 – 848,000 San Diegans facing hunger: who they really are
01:21 – Casey’s background & why he joined the Food Bank
04:34 – Why collaboration is the only way to solve hunger
05:53 – Serving 1 in 4 people in San Diego: the scale of the crisis
07:24 – Partnerships with 450+ nonprofits across the county
08:41 – How 11,000 turkeys were distributed this year
10:19 – Why hunger is getting worse despite the COVID rebound
12:07 – The shutdown: 400,000 SNAP recipients lose benefits
15:34 – Why recovery isn’t instant after the government reopens
23:22 – Seniors: the forgotten population hit hardest by hunger
31:57 – How volunteers power the Food Bank (107,000 hours!)
35:26 – The 45th annual Holiday Food Drive & how to help
38:20 – Final message: Hunger is solvable — if we choose to solve it

#DreamingBigWorkingHard #SanDiegoFoodBank #FoodInsecurity #HungerCrisis #DreamingBigWorkingHard #DavidAlvarez #CaseyCastillo #EndHunger #CaliforniaNonprofits #SANDiegoCommunity #FoodBank #GiveBack #VolunteerSD #HolidayFoodDrive #Podcast
How the San Diego Food Bank Saved Families During the Government Shutdown | S1E13
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai5ERENFNTk4Q0Q2MTZDMTA5
Tune in to hear from Julie Moore, Director of Corporate & Community Engagement, and Josue Castro, Direct Services Manager, as they share how the San Diego Food Bank is kicking off its 45th annual Holiday Food Drive. With support from longstanding partners — including Aya Healthcare, Bank of America, and San Diego County Toyota Dealers, as well as grocery partners Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions — this campaign helps stock the Food Bank’s shelves for the winter and spring months ahead.

Julie highlights the simple ways community members can give back at Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions: donate $1, $3, or $5 at checkout, or drop shelf-stable items — such as canned chicken or tuna, beans, soups, cereal, rice, pasta, or peanut butter — into the red barrels near store entrances and customer service areas.

Josue explains how the Food Bank serves the region throughout the year through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, veteran and military support, and Food 4 Kids Backpack Program. He also shares how demand has surged by more than 120 percent in recent weeks and how volunteers, staff, and community partners are helping meet that need.

Ways to give:
• Donate nonperishables at more than 70 Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions locations.
• Give $1, $3, or $5 at checkout to help provide holiday meals.
• Support the Food Bank online anytime with a monetary donation or by hosting a virtual food drive.

Learn more or donate: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday/
________________________________________________________________________
Original Air Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | Source: FOX 5 (Downloaded via TVEyes)
Inside the San Diego Food Bank’s 45th Annual Holiday Food Drive
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai4yM0EyQ0U1M0I2RkIwNTQ0
Learn more how CEO Casey Castillo and Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions representative Rosita Szatkowska are inviting the community to take part in the San Diego Food Bank’s 45th annual Holiday Food Drive. With families across the county facing rising costs and additional strain from the government shutdown, this longstanding campaign arrives at a moment when support matters more than ever.

Rosita outlines two simple ways shoppers can give back: donate $1, $3, or $5 at checkout, or place nonperishable items — such as peanut butter, cereal, canned vegetables, or pasta — into the red barrels at store entrances and customer service areas. Last year, generous customers contributed $290,000, and the goal this year is $300,000 or more. Every gift helps ensure nutritious food reaches local families throughout the holiday season.

Ways to give:
• Donate nonperishables at more than 70 Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions locations.
• Give $1, $3, or $5 at checkout to help provide holiday meals.
• Support the Food Bank online anytime with a monetary donation or by hosting a virtual food drive.

Learn more or donate: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday/
________________________________________________________________________
Original Air Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 | Source: KUSI (Downloaded via TVEyes)
Simple Ways to Help Local Families During the 45th Annual Holiday Food Drive
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai5DQjg2RDQyMEVGQkZFOEVF
Learn more how CEO Casey Castillo and grocery partner representative Rosita Szatkowska are joining forces to kick off the San Diego Food Bank’s 45th annual Holiday Food Drive. With demand rising across the county, this year’s campaign arrives at a crucial moment.

Rosita shares how shoppers at Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions can make an immediate impact by donating $1, $3, or $5 at checkout or placing nonperishable items into the red barrels near store entrances. Last year, generous customers contributed $290,000, and the need is even greater this season. Every contribution — big or small — helps families across San Diego County access nutritious food during the holidays.

Ways to give:
• Donate nonperishables at more than 70 Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions locations.
• Give $1, $3, or $5 at checkout to help provide holiday meals.
• Support the Food Bank online anytime with a monetary donation or by hosting a virtual food drive.

Learn more or donate: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday/
________________________________________________________________________
Original Air Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 | Source: FOX 5 (Downloaded via TVEyes)
Holiday Food Drive Launch: Easy Ways to Help at Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai4wQUE0QzM4MkJGQ0YwQjUx
Tune in to hear from CEO Casey Castillo and Rosita Szatkowska of Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions as the San Diego Food Bank launches the 45th annual Holiday Food Drive. With thousands of families turning to nonprofit partners for help each week — and added pressure from the federal government shutdown — community support is more important than ever.

Rosita shares how easy it is for shoppers to make a difference during their regular grocery run. Customers can donate $1, $3, or $5 at checkout or drop nonperishable items into the signature red barrels near store entrances. Last year, generous shoppers contributed $290,000, and this year’s goal is to surpass $325,000 to help meet the rising need.

Your support fuels this long-standing San Diego tradition and ensures families across the county have access to nutritious food throughout the holiday season.

Ways to give:
• Donate nonperishables at more than 70 Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions locations.
• Give $1, $3, or $5 at checkout to help provide holiday meals.
• Support the Food Bank online anytime with a monetary donation or by hosting a virtual food drive.

Learn more or donate: https://sandiegofoodbank.org/holiday/
________________________________________________________________________
Original Air Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 | Source: KUSI (Downloaded via TVEyes)
How Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions Power the 45th Annual Holiday Food Drive
YouTube Video UEw0Nkw0S3QxVVNReGgwWUd3azhNSUpRTFQyRGdtMFZJai5GMDBDNkJGMzYzREUyMTYw
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San Diego Food Bank
9850 Distribution Avenue
San Diego, CA 92121-2320
1-858-527-1419 Local
1-866-350-FOOD (3663) Toll Free
Contact Us

Hours of Operation - Miramar
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

RECEIVING
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

San Diego Food Bank -
North County
2260 Oak Ridge Way
Vista, CA 92081
1-858-527-1419 Local
1-866-350-FOOD (3663) Toll Free

Hours of Operation - North County
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Monday
9 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Tuesday - Friday
9 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

RECEIVING
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

THE JACOBS AND CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. FEDERAL TAX I.D. # 20-4374795

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