FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS
@THECALIFORNIAAGGIE
@THECALIFORNIAAGGIE
THEAGGIE.ORG
SERVING THE UC DAVIS CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE
@THECALIFORNIAAGGIE
VOLUME 149, ISSUE 12 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026
Yolo County food bank fundraises over $1 million through their Food First program To combat food insecurity in Yolo County, the Food First program fundraised and delivered emergency food at a time when federal funding fell short BY GIA LOOMIS city@theaggie.org In November 2025, the United States government broke its record for the longest government shutdown in American history. This 43day shutdown caused several government departments and funds to be put on hold, resulting in delayed November CalFresh benefits. In response, the Yolo Food Bank quickly took action to combat the resulting food insecurity. The Yolo Food Bank partnered with Yolo County to launch its Food First Program. Yolo Food Bank Senior Development Manager, Alex Simmons, explained why the shutdown and resulting delays in food benefits inspired the program. “In a typical month, more than 27,000 Yolo County residents rely on CalFresh to meet their basic food needs, meaning over 10% of the community was affected,” Simmons said. “This was the sole inspiration for the Food First response.” The program focused on a “five-point response” to food insecurity: mobilizing emergency funds for food distribution, holding additional emergency food distribution events, expanding food distributions, expanding support for partner agencies and distributing grocery cards. This response allowed the Food Bank to provide more food in a quicker time frame. Simmons explained how the Food First Program’s fivepoint response made strides
Yolo Food Bank has raised $1 million to help the community as CalFresh benefits freeze. (Christian Cendejas / Aggie) in combating food insecurity by allowing Yolo Food Bank to host more events, while providing even more groceries per distribution. “This campaign allowed Yolo Food Bank to increase the amount of food we distributed at our regular community food distributions by 20% in November and December,” Simmons said. “We also hosted six emergency food distribution
events in November to meet the immediate needs of foodinsecure community members.” In order to reach their goals to increase distribution and aid, the Yolo Food Bank set a fundraising goal of $750,000 for the program. This was not only met, but exceeded, as the program has now raised over $1 million. The Yolo Food Bank’s recent article explained the importance
of the mass support that came from local supporters. “The Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $225,000 in onetime tobacco settlement funds to provide immediate food security relief, authorizing an agreement with Yolo Food Bank to deliver this support directly to families via grocery gift cards,” the article reads. “This helped launch our Food First campaign to address
this crisis with urgency.” Additional support also came from the Yolo Community Foundation, as they donated $25,000 to the program. Another major contribution came from local grocers, including Davis Food Co-op, Safeway, Nugget Markets and Raley’s, who provided gift cards to help the effort. Without local community support, the Food First Program
would not have been able to make the immediate impact it had, according to Simmons. “We’re overwhelmed with gratitude due to the incredible generosity of our community,” Simmons said. “All of these contributions demonstrated a shared commitment to ensuring our neighbors did not go without food during a time of hardship.” While this influx of donations has allowed for the Food First program to succeed, the funds won’t be limited to action taken by the program. Simmons explained that the funds will continue to be allocated to fighting food insecurity. “The additional funds we raised through this campaign are 100% restricted for purchasing food,” Simmons said. “This will allow us to continue providing nutritious food to Yolo County residents throughout the coming year.” Yolo Food Bank Executive Director Karen Baker described the importance of Food First, which goes beyond simply supplying food. “Food First didn’t just replace lost benefits,” Baker said. “It replaced fear with food, anxiety with assurance and uncertainty with community care.” Through the Food First Program, Yolo County was able to combat food insecurity and fear in a time when federal support was lacking. While full CalFresh benefits resumed in mid-November, the Food First Program is still actively working to limit food insecurity in Yolo County. Visit the Yolo Food Bank’s website for information on donations, resources and more.
Davis residents protest UC Davis awarded Trump administration’s Black-Serving Institution immigration crackdown designation
Local activist group Indivisible Yolo organizes demonstrations against deportation and in favor of due process for immigrants
Demonstrators protest against ICE deportations at the intersection of 5th and B Streets in Davis, California on Jan. 7, 2026. (Sonja Wooley / Aggie) BY SONJA WOOLEY city@theaggie.org On Jan. 7, protesters gathered at the 5th and B Street intersection to oppose President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown. The demonstration was organized by Indivisible Yolo, a local progressive activist group, as part of an ongoing monthly visibility campaign “Disappeared in America.” The protestors stood on the side of the road, leading chants, waving American flags and holding signs written with slogans like “Love your neighbor” and “Due process for all” for the passing drivers, many of whom honked in support. Natalie, a Davis resident who only gave her first name, spoke about the reason she attended the demonstration. “It’s kind of up to me to make my voice heard,” Natalie said. “I know a lot of people who are afraid to go to events like this because of what it could mean for their family, and I know a lot of people who are scared. I just don’t think that is an acceptable way for humans to be treated.” The purpose of the Disappeared in America
visibility event is to stand up for those who have been illegally detained and deported. This includes Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian man who was mistakenly deported and now faces charges for human smuggling; Rui Murras, a Portuguese green card holder and lifelong resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who was arrested on the basis of a dismissed drug charge from 2013 and now faces deportation; and Juan Maldonado Zuniga, who was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February 2025 despite his pending case in New Britain court. Lynne Nittler, a Davis resident and environmental activist, spoke about what motivated her to take action. “It builds our own solidarity and our awareness that we’re not alone in this,” Nittler said. “We’ve had huge rallies, [in] Woodland [and] here, that should have some power, [and] we should have enough political power to make some change.” Another protestor, who wished to remain anonymous, described their fear over the country’s current trajectory and ICE’s actions.
“There’s just a pervasive fear, [and] I feel it too,” the protestor said. “Because, if we’re not standing up for immigrants, ICE is just going to start harassing whoever Trump wants to target next. I feel like I could be next [...] So I’m always afraid, I lock my door at night.” The Disappeared in America visibility event was scheduled on the same day that an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, an unarmed U.S. citizen, during an encounter in Minneapolis. A day after the protest, a man and woman were shot and injured by an ICE officer in Portland, Oregon. Carol Warren, a participant at the protest, gave her opinion on the recent shootings and ICE raids. “Any law enforcement officer should know not to shoot into a moving car; that’s just stupid,” Warren said. “It’s meant to be antagonistic. They want people to turn violent so that they can take further actions against citizens and lock the whole city down. They’re trying to keep it peaceful from what I’ve heard, but people are angry. One of their citizens was just shot while trying to leave, not while doing anything.”
The BSI designation marks UC Davis’ commitment to Black and African American student success
UC Davis is designated as a Black-Serving Institution (BSI), highlighting the university’s support for black students. (Aggie File) provide any special funding or and diversity. BY KHADEEJAH KHAN “UC Davis is dedicated to grants to awarded campuses. the success of our students, and Instead, the BSI designation campus@theaggie.org this designation demonstrates to is meant to strengthen the UC Davis, alongside 30 current and prospective students university’s ability to attract other institutions, will be that a robust network of resources funding, partnerships and part of the inaugural class of is here to foster their belonging opportunities — including California universities and and help them thrive through scholarships, internships and colleges designated as Black- to graduation and beyond,” research — in an effort to Serving Institutions (BSIs). UC May said. “Our university support student achievement, Berkeley was the only other UC celebrates and supports Black enrollment and retention rates. In addition to this latest campus that qualified in last excellence, history and futures month’s class, in addition to in our commitment to serving recognition, UC Davis was three California State University California’s diverse population.” previously awarded the federal To be eligible for the Minority-Serving Institution campuses, 25 California Community Colleges and one designation, at least 10% or designation as an Asian American 1,500 students of a campus’ and Native American Pacific private institution. The designation was student population must be Islander-Serving Institution in established by California Senate Black and African American; in 2019. It has also been eligible Bill 1348, which created the fall 2025, a total of 1,701 UC to become a Hispanic-Serving California Seal of Excellence Davis students were Black and Institution since 2024, having in Serving Black and African African American. In addition reached a full-time student American Postsecondar y to this eligibility requirement, population which is over 25% Students in order to recognize campuses must submit an Latinx. Sade Adams, a fourth-year campuses that “excel at providing application that demonstrates academic resources to Black and commitment to encourage the African and African American African American students.” The enrollment and academic success studies major and president of BSI designation differs from of Black and African American the Black Student Union (BSU), recalled her excitement when Historically Black College and students. UC Davis’ application she first heard the news of the Universities (HBCUs), with the latter referring to institutions included data-driven plans to designation. “When I first saw the across the country founded address graduation equity gaps prior to the 1964 Civil Rights for Black students, existing announcement, it actually made Act with a mission to provide programs like the UC-HBCU me really proud because when I opportunities for higher Initiative and events including first got here, I didn’t know what education and excellence for Black Fall Welcome, Black to expect,” Adams said. “Actually History/Black Futures Month, being here every year, I feel like African American students. In a press release, UC Black Family Day and the there are more and more Black Davis Chancellor Gary May Black Graduation Recognition students that I see on campus. celebrated the announcement Ceremony, according to UC This school really does a lot to support students of color, not and the university’s steps Davis’ press release. The state program does not just Black students.” toward supporting inclusion BSIUCD on 9