Kaiser Permanente supports organizations addressing hunger

Kaiser Permanente is supporting Sacramento and Central Valley organizations that hold food distribution events, deliver nutritious meals, provide emergency food assistance, and support people in the community struggling with food security.

This year, Kaiser Permanente has provided $940,000 in grants to 19 organizations throughout Sacramento and the Central Valley to help increase access to nutritious food, particularly for vulnerable populations, including older adults.

Research from the California Food Bank Association shows that in 2025:

·24% of California adults were food insecure.

·Among adults living with children, 33% were food insecure.

·The cost of groceries is the leading affordability concern for U.S. adults.

Coupled with funding cuts to food-assistance programs, many Californians are struggling more than ever to put food on the table.

Kaiser Permanente provides much-needed support

Throughout Northern California this year, Kaiser Permanente provided a total of $4.3 million to more than 100 organizations to address food security in every community we serve.

“When people are hungry or unable to access the nutritious food they need for good health, it becomes much harder for them to get well and stay well,” said Yvette Radford, vice president of External and Community Affairs, Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “These grants will strengthen the region’s emergency food system and expand access to food for those most at risk of hunger.”

Access to nutritious food keeps the community healthy

The California Food Bank Association estimates that about 16 million people in California — around 40% of the population — can’t meet the cost of basic needs because their income falls short. As a result, many rely on support from their local food banks.

Grants from Kaiser Permanente help ensure local food banks and other organizations can provide vulnerable families and older adults with access to healthy meals and groceries.

One example, Meals on Wheels Sacramento County received $90,000 to provide 15,000 nutritious meals to adults age 75 and older across Sacramento County, by delivering 10,000 meals to homebound seniors and serving 5,000 meals at community café sites.

“Grants like these are crucial to sustaining and growing programs like ours that help support the seniors in our community with nutritious meals,” said Jennifer Massello, director of operations, Meals on Wheels Sacramento County.