As local food banks’ resources are stretched thin to serve record numbers of people experiencing food insecurity, Sierra Health Foundation and United Way California Capital Region are launching the Match for Meals campaign. All donations made through Match for Meals until January 31, 2026, will be matched up to $300,000 by the two organizations to benefit Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, Interfaith Food Bank of Amador County, El Dorado County Food Bank, Feeding the Foothills in Placer County and Yolo Food Bank. To donate, visit www.MatchForMeals.org or text Match4Meals to 41444.
Sierra Health Foundation will match donations up to $200,000, and the local United Way will match donations up to $100,000, encouraging individuals and institutions to support the region’s five food banks.
“We launched Match for Meals because the need for nutritional assistance is greater than ever,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO, Sierra Health Foundation. “Matching initial donor funds doubles the support for local food banks that are working tirelessly to fill the gap left by cuts to critical safety net resources. This is our moment to make a real impact when it matters most. Together, we can make a difference for our neighbors in need.”
The announcement was made today at a press conference at Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, which supports more than 110 local agencies, including food pantries, community meal sites, senior centers, schools and nonprofits. On average, nearly 320,000 people rely on Sacramento Food Bank’s 200 distribution sites each month. In October, the food bank broke a 49-year record, serving more than 372,000 people. Across the state in 2024, food banks distributed more than 950 million pounds of food and served more than 6 million people per month, according to the California Association of Food Banks. Currently one in five Californians – almost 9 million – experience food insecurity.
“When one in five Californians is struggling to put food on the table, we are reminded that hunger isn’t just a statistic, it’s a reality for our neighbors, our friends and our families,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “It impacts children trying to learn and working families striving to make ends meet and put food on their table. Together, through Match for Meals, we have the power to turn compassion into action and make sure every family has the nourishment they need during the holidays and beyond.”
Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropy investing in and serving as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships and programs that improve health and quality of life in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Learn more: www.sierrahealth.org.
United Way California Capital Region has been a driving force across the region for more than 100 years, listening, responding and taking comprehensive action to meet local needs. From advancing youth opportunities and helping kids excel in school, to strengthening local communities and investing in families’ financial security and health, United Way mobilizes communities to build a future where everyone can reach their full potential and thrive. Working across Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties, the local United Way provides books and literacy tutoring, addresses housing and food security, leads the region’s largest tax preparation initiative, works with foster youth across school districts, launched the region’s first guaranteed income program and leads the Community Schools initiative in West Sacramento. Learn more: www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.