CHICO — With the delay of Nov. 1 Cal Fresh benefits, the North Valley Community Foundation has opened a food insecurity relief fund, the nonprofit announced Thursday, awarding $20,000 to the North State Food Bank as its first act.

The nonprofit wrote in a press release Thursday that the fund has already accumulated $100,000 from donations and its own investment, and will be awarded to food banks in Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Tehama and Plumas counties. Existing food pantries may apply for grants between $500 and $1,500 at nvcf.org/food-insecurity-relief.

“While everyone acknowledges the government shutdown is political gamesmanship, we don’t want to stand by while a basic human need like food becomes part of the game,” stated NVCF President and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis “Philanthropy can’t e

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