The CAPK Food Bank is Expanding!
Learn how it will impact Kern County, Ca below
Why is this important?
Food is the #1 unmet need in Kern County and since its creation, the CAPK Food Bank has been working diligently to answer that call.
The CAPK Food Bank is currently operating at MAXIMUM CAPACITY, jeopardizing our ability to meet the food needs of the most vulnerable & the food insecure residents in our community. Expanding this location will increase our ability to do more, with the determination & vision to alleviate hunger across the communities we serve. The addition of 40,000 sq. ft. to the existing 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse will more than triple the square footage, providing the space needed to source & distribute larger quantities of food in a safer & more efficient way.
Community Impact
CAPK Food Bank is the hub of an 8,000-square-mile food distribution network that provides food to more than 100,000 individuals who face food insecurity across Kern County and beyond. This network is built from a collaborative partnership of more than 150 non-profit, faith-based, volunteer and community groups who receive donations of CAPK food and share it with their communities.
Expanding the CAPK Food Bank will allow us to expand this network and the impact we make together.
Project details
This expansion will, once again, allow CAPK to consolidate all Food Bank operations under one roof. It will eliminate the need to travel back and forth between our leased warehouses, reduce operational costs and improve the effectiveness and collaboration of Food Bank staff.
The 40,000 square foot expansion will include the following improvements:
The addition of six new loading docks to allow faster loading and unloading of food. The current facility has only one loading dock.
More industrial freezer and refrigeration to allow the Food Bank to receive more meats, milk, produce and other healthy but perishable foods.
A clean room to allow for packaging of greens, vegetables, fruits and breads for distribution.
Addressing Food Insecurity in Kern County
Kern County consistently ranks among the top five most-productive agricultural counties in the United States. Yet, many Kern County residents experience hunger and malnourishment.
- Food insecurity in children means a greater chance of mental and physical health issues, poor academic achievement, and chronic illness.
- 20.7 percent of children in Kern County are food insecure compared to 13.6 percent of children in California and 14.6 percent of children in the United States.
- Food insecure adults are at a greater risk to develop serious disease like diabetes and high blood pressure
Barriers
In these high poverty areas, low-income residents are less likely to own a vehicle and thus would find it much more difficult to get to a grocery store if one were not nearby. There are some areas in the Central Bakersfield area and some south of Bakersfield that need attention.
- There are a variety of reasons that eligible households do not apply for CalFresh benefits, including perceived stigma, lack of knowledge about the program, or difficulty in managing the requirements of the application process. Challenges may include limited access to transportation, language barriers, or difficulty getting time off from work during the day to apply in person. In Kern County, approximately 35 percent of households that would be eligible for CalFresh are not receiving it.
- Furthermore, Kern County currently lacks an updated GIS map that demonstrates food access and affordability through transportation routes, food outlets, and local income levels.
Opportunities
Collaborate across sectors to identify ways to further reduce edible food waste and increase food recovery throughout the food system. Document activities and outcomes in a consistent way over time so total impact can be measured.
- A sustainable food system in this context is one that integrates sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste management in order to enhance environmental, economic and human health.
- Increase utilization of CalFresh
- Encourage business/people to buy locally
- Work with farmers’ market managers and/or community organizations to explore the market viability of opening new markets. Involving beginning farmers in these new markets could provide them with opportunities to improve their marketing skills.
CAPK's Approach
The CAPK Food Bank is a partner distribution organization (PDO) of the Feeding American Network, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
- The Feeding America Network consists of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries
- The CAPK Food Bank tries to accept all food offered to meet the immense food needs in Kern County.
Pending Construction Efforts:
- With the CAPK Food Bank operating at capacity, additional space is needed to receive and store food donation until they can be distributed through the network of partner distribution sites.
- An integral part of CAPK’s ability to meet food needs is through private donation, including fruits and vegetables from local growers.
- To meet the increasing food needs throughout the county, more space is needed to accept even larger quantities of these foods.
Once expanded, CAPK’s Food Bank will have the ability to accept more food donations to meet current and expanded needs.
*Information above comes from the “Kern County Food System Assessment.” KCFSA_report_full-1.pdf (ucdavis.edu)
