Kelly Lowery, Administrator of the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) Food Bank, has committed to a no-food fast to protest state and federal decisions threatening the lifeline tens of thousands of local families rely on each month.
“I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing,” Lowery said during an interview with Kern Sol News. “This is my way of raising awareness, so people can understand what’s happening and hopefully be motivated to act.”
Lowery is currently on day four of his fast, with his last meal having been eaten on Sunday night.
CAPK, which provides emergency food services across Kern County, is facing steep funding challenges due to proposed state and federal budget cuts. Lowery said these changes threaten to reduce the food bank’s ability to serve a community already struggling with high levels of food insecurity.
“There are decisions being made in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. that directly impact our work—and they’re not getting the attention they deserve,” he said.
In the Trump Administration’s 2026 Discretionary Budget Request, the White House is proposing to eliminate certain grants that support Community Action Agencies like CAPK. The budget criticizes these agencies for pursuing agendas that include diversity, equity, and environmental initiatives, arguing that Americans in need would be better served through other federal programs, such as those under the Departments of Labor and Agriculture.
Lowery, however, emphasized that eliminating such funding would directly impact the Food Bank’s core mission: feeding families in crisis.
According to Lowery, more than 200,000 times each month, people in Kern County access emergency food through CAPK’s network. “Some families need help more than once a month, so rather than tracking individuals, we focus on total distributions,” he said, estimating the number of unique people served monthly is well over 100,000.
As he continues the fast, Lowery says he’s feeling physically hungry but mentally focused.
“Knowing that people are following along, contacting their representatives, and spreading the word is helping me stay committed,” stated Lowery.
He’s encouraging the public to get involved in three main ways:
- Volunteer – “We rely on volunteers to keep the food bank running,” Lowery said. “Bring your family, your coworkers, your organization. Come see the scale of what we do.”
- Advocate – CAPK has made it easy for residents to contact elected officials through links shared in Lowery’s recent posts, including a pre-written message to the governor and tools to identify state legislators.
- Donate – Supporters can text “FEEDKERN” to 50155 to make a one-time or recurring financial contribution.
“One in five people in Kern County are food insecure. If you’re one of the four who aren’t, this is a moment to show gratitude by standing in solidarity,” Lowery said. “Things are going to get harder for families unless we act.”
