While in DC Senator Murkowski protects the interests and pocketbooks of Alaskans, the rest of the country is yet again sent the Republicans' standard out-of-office auto-reply: Don't be so dumb as to think we're in this together. America is about looking out for yourself!

Among the many non-profit organizations and civic institutions across the Bay Area challenged by the harsh and hateful reality of the Trump/Musk administration is the Alameda Food Bank. Here's an email yesterday from the food bank's board chair:

I'll be direct—we need your help.

The federal funding cuts I mentioned in my previous email are already hitting us hard. A United Way grant that was entirely funded by federal dollars—money we used to purchase food—has been completely eliminated. Other programs are seeing significant reductions.

Meanwhile, 1,400 of our neighbors continue to need food assistance every single week.

The food bank is one of a small handful of non-profits that my household donates to each year. After receiving this update, I sent in another donation on top of our annual donation.

If spreading out a donation over months is easier for you, it's even more helpful to the food bank. Per their email:

When you commit to a monthly gift of $5 or $10 a month, you're providing something priceless: reliability. You're saying to your hungry neighbors, "I've got your back, month after month."

Just imagine what your monthly gift can do:

A monthly gift of $10 becomes $70 worth of food every month (remember, every $1 = $7 in food purchasing power)

A monthly gift of $25 helps us stock a school Community Closet so kids don't have to learn on empty stomachs

A monthly gift of $50 ensures we can provide culturally appropriate foods that nourish both body and soul

The midterm Congressional elections of 2026 can't come soon enough. In the meantime it's all the more important to support American civil society across its many facets.

Please consider going to www.alamedafoodbank.org and clicking the Donate button today.