FARSB's 45th Year Comes to a Close

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026

Survive Food Bank's Board of Directors from Left to Right: Mary Ann Skeehan, Willi Silva, Mary Curtin, Lawrence Townsend, Fred Stowall, Christ Taber, Jim Dale, Les Summerfield.

Photo Credits: FARSB

What started as a humble beginning for Survive Food Bank has transformed over 45 years into one of the largest food banks in the Inland Empire (IE). From two name changes to surviving a global pandemic, the food bank now known as Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) has celebrated the 45th year of feeding the IE despite the challenges it's faced throughout the years.

As the 45th year comes to a close, we reflect on the past with a trip down memory lane, showing a glimpse of the journey through original photos of food bank operations to see how we've grown to meet the needs of the IE. It also brings to mind the bittersweetness of rising needs in the area and the need for a food bank to continue, meaning folks aren't being fed.

As we highlight the vital work we do within the community, we also want to bring attention to the ways the region must focus on addressing major issues within the food system to ensure equitable access to all community members.

Bitter Fruit

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 developing children. The food bank serves an average of 300,000 people each month; however, with an existing gap and an ever-increasing need, there is clear cause for action to boost food security for families.

“45 years in operation is a wonderful accomplishment, but we recognize that we exist because there is a need, and seeing food insecurity rise is quite sobering. We see a future where all community members are fed adequate meals to sustain an active lifestyle, but as of now, that is still not happening,” said Joanna Solorio, Interim Chief Executive Officer 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 nutritious food for all.” Solorio continued.

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

Your Local Food Bank Through the Years

Current Operations

As we take a look at our past, we also want to keep you up to date on our current programs and initiatives happening at FARSB. This is a snapshot of several of our food bank's most successful programs in calendar year 2025.

• CalFresh Outreach - Our team has assisted individuals with the SNAP/CalFresh application process, resulting in 1,372 successful submissions to the county.

• USDA (TEFAP) - FARSB holds the contract for USDA/TEFAP food distributions in Riverside County, serving 111,533 households.

• Senior Mobile Pantry Program (SMPP) - Through several senior centers, assisted living facilities, and community center partnerships, we've served 30,773 households.

• Nourish Now - Our homebound delivery program began in 2020 and has grown to serve 6,554 households.

• Grab n' Go - Partnered with several school districts for food distributions, which served 22,179 students/children, ultimately reaching 11,731 households.

• Military Veteran Program (MVP) - Works alongside veteran-focused organizations to ensure food access to veterans and their families, serving 4,832 households.

• Fresh Start Pantry by Goodman - With the unveiling of our first client-choice pantry in January 2025, within the first year of operation, we've served just over 1,000 households, totaling 3,004 individuals.

FARSB Looks to the Future

Although being a successful nonprofit is not something to be taken lightly, we recognize that our reason for existence is that neighbors lack access to the food they need to thrive. As we look back on the good years, the vital work we've done, and the future of our food bank, we want to ensure that we're doing all we can to support neighbors in need.

With that in mind, we are dedicating ourselves to advocating for a better food system, one that is sustainable and equal among all community members. We commit to working alongside our partner organizations, government officials, and local leaders to mobilize support for better food assistance for families.

Thank you to all supporters, donors, volunteers, and anyone who has helped our community through our food bank. We wouldn't be here without you, and we sincerely hope that you take this advocacy journey with us as we aim to ensure better access to food assistance throughout the IE.

-FARSB Board of Directors & Staff

If you'd like to support FARSB through advocacy, please visit www.FeedingIE.org/advocate help us support our mission.