With millions of food-insecure people expected to lose benefits, food banks and pantries in the Bay Area are bracing for the worst and rallying community support to continue serving those in need.

Why it matters: Roughly 175,000 residents in Bay Area congressional districts are at risk of losing benefits from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the nation's largest food aid program — including children and seniors, according to the California Budget & Policy Center.

What they're saying: If you add up all of the SNAP recipients at risk of losing some benefits, they'd fill up every major stadium in the Bay Area, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank spokesperson Lisa Gulezian told Axios.

• "Locally, we are asking the city and county to strengthen their response to food insecurity by protecting CalFresh and SNAP," said the food bank's associate director of policy and advocacy, Marchon Tatmon, who pointed to potential initiatives like community markets and funds focused on food insecurity.

State of play: Pre-COVID, the food bank served around 34,000 households, according to Tatmon. At the peak of the pandemic, that number hit 56,000.

• It remains at roughly 53,000 households today.
• "The need is still there," Tatmon said, noting that over 6,500 people are on their waitlist.
• Volunteers, donations and calls to elected officials will be critical for ensuring the food bank can adequately provide for people in need, Tatmon added.

Context: Trump's signature policy bill tightens SNAP work requirements, a move Republicans say will reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

• It's on track to cut 20% of spending on food stamps, which could result in more than 2 million people losing benefits, per an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

Zoom out: In California, 13.9% of the population — or about 5.5 million people — participate in SNAP.

• The program provides crucial support for low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and others.
• More than 62% of SNAP participants are in families with children and more than 38% are in working families, a 2024 CBPP analysis shows.
• Over 1 in 5 households in California struggle with food insecurity, per the California Association of Food Banks.

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Beretta reopened its original location in the Mission this week with a revamped menu and retro-futuristic look.

State of play: After 17 years on Valencia, the neighborhood staple from restaurateur Adriano Paganini resurfaced after a six-week remodel with traditional Italian dishes and signature cocktails from its early days, when it was a service industry magnet.

• For years, it was the Mission haven where industry folks wound down — or kept the night going — thanks to its liveliness, late-night bites and endless rounds of "cheekies," miniature complimentary shots (often mezcal) shared with peers in the city's bar scene.

The vibe: The refreshed space pays homage to the Italian mod era with a red marble bar, spherical pendant lights, burnt orange leather stools and a geometric mural.

• The restaurant formerly had a dark and sultry interior combining wooden accents with industrial and Victorian flourishes.

Dig in: The menu was restored with dishes crafted by the late Ruggero Gadaldi, Beretta's original chef and partner.

• Those include an array of stuzzichini (Italian small bites) and saffron risotto with ossobuco ($28).
• Pizzas will also be a mainstay, with classics like the margherita ($18) and the new mortadella with pistachio ($25).

Best sips: The cocktail program includes oldies like the Acadian, with rye, sloe gin and honey ($14) and new drinks such as the Mojave Road Trip with vodka, pineapple and ancho verde ($14).

My thought bubble: The space feels nostalgic, partly due to memories of sitting at the bar with coworkers after a late shift bantering over mezcal negronis and crab arancini. Some professions, like hospitality and journalism, just understand each other.

If you go: Hours vary. Open daily at 1199 Valencia St.

• And order a cheeky for old time's sake!

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The average total in-network cost of giving birth in California is about $20,400 for vaginal deliveries and $25,200 for C-sections, per data from national nonprofit FAIR Health.

The big picture: Nationwide, the average is about $15,200 for vaginal deliveries and $19,300 for C-sections.

By the numbers: For vaginal deliveries, Alaska has the highest average cost (about $29,200), followed by New York and New Jersey (both about $21,800).

• Alaska also has the highest average cost for C-sections ($39,500), with Maine ($28,800) and Vermont ($28,700) trailing.

How it works: The totals include delivery, ultrasounds and lab work and reflect costs paid by patients and insurance companies.

The Exploratorium's annual Bay Day returns Saturday with hands-on activities, live science demonstrations and access to sea creatures and tools used to study local waters.

State of play: The event celebrates the San Francisco Bay with numerous activities about ocean science.

The intrigue: One of the most popular exhibits is the Buoy Pull, where a one‑ton CO₂ buoy borrowed from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is pulled out of the water for data collection and inspection.

If you go: 11am-4pm at Pier 15. Free with museum admission.