Redlands launches food security initiative amid rising need

REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new Food Security and Child Nutrition Support Initiative to coordinate local responses to growing food insecurity and strengthen access to nutritious meals across the city.

Why it matters: Redlands’ new initiative signals a coordinated, city-led response to rising hunger and the loss of key nutrition benefits. By creating a formal task force and expanding partnerships, city leaders aim to close service gaps, strengthen collaboration with local nonprofits and ensure that no resident, especially children, goes without access to food.

Details: Authored by Councilmember Denise Davis, the initiative calls for the creation of a citywide Food Security Task Force. This collaboration would include partnerships with Redlands Unified School District and local community organizations such as food banks, nonprofits and places of worship.

Davis said she introduced the proposal out of concern over recent reductions in federal and state nutrition benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and CalFresh.

“I put this item on the agenda because I’ve been concerned about the news reports around the freezes to SNAP and CalFresh benefits,” Davis said. “I really wanted to have a conversation around food security in Redlands.”

What they’re saying: While there were not many speaker slips, all who spoke on the item voiced strong support for the initiative. 

“Family Service is willing to do whatever is needed to identify the gaps and to better coordinate some of those gaps,” said Family Service Association of Redlands Executive Director Kyra Stewart during the Tuesday meeting.

One resident who spoke during public comment shared a personal story of struggling with food insecurity.

“I know what it’s like to have food scarcity,” the speaker said. “I see this as a beacon of hope for many of the citizens in Redlands, in particular for those that are affected by the SNAP cuts…It shows that the city of Redlands does work for its people.”

Mayor Paul Barich emphasized the importance of bringing together experienced partners to lead the effort.

“We really need to lean on the professionals and get them together so they can give us direction on how we may help,” Barich said.

Davis said the initiative complements the city’s broader focus on addressing homelessness and supporting vulnerable residents.

“I think this is something we should have already been doing and should continue to do,” she said. 

Moving forward: Councilmembers asked staff to look into whether remaining funds in the city budget could be redirected toward future food access projects. 

According to the meeting agenda, the initiative also calls for exploring community mini-grants and external funding opportunities from state and federal agencies to support local food security projects. 

Staff will return to the City Council in February 2026 with progress updates and recommendations on how best to tackle food insecurity in Redlands.