wss1-15-26Magazine

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026

Local Food Bank Reflects on 45th Anniversary

RIVERSIDE, CA--- Feeding America Riv- erside | San Bernardino (FARSB) reflects as it concludes the food bank's 45th year of oper- ating. With rising needs in the Inland Empire (IE), the food bank highlights the vital work it does within the community while bringing attention to the ways the region must focus on addressing major issues within the food sys- tem to ensure equitable access to all commu- nity members.

"45 years in operation is a wonderful ac- complishment, but we recognize that we ex- ist because there is a need, and seeing food insecurity rise is quite sobering. We see a fu- ture where all community members are fed

Amid Rising Need adequate meals to sustain an active lifestyle, but as of now, that is still not happening," said Joanna Solorio, Interim Chief Executive Of- ficer at FARSB. "Food is a right, and we must continue to work with city, county, and state officials to address this issue fully if we want to have sustainable, equitable access to nutri- tious food for all." Solorio continued.

With 530,000 food-insecure people in the IE, not everyone is getting the food they need for peak health and to sustain their busy lives as working parents, college students, or develop- ing children. The food bank serves an average of 300,000 people each month; however, with an existing gap and an increase in need, there is clear cause for action to boost food security for families.

FARSB operates alongside nearly 250 com- munity partners to serve Riverside and San Bernardino counties and has seen a significant increase in need in both areas over the past few years, with funding cuts, social program changes, and rising cost-of-living all exacer- bating the issue. This rise signifies the cur- rent need for food banks, while highlighting the unfortunate reality of growing hunger and food insecurity within the region.

For more information about FARSB's hun- ger-relief efforts, please visit www.FeedingIE. org