SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It’s Day 20 of the federal government shutdown, and California food banks say they’re bracing for what they call a “perfect storm.”
Cuts to SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known in California as CalFresh, could come as soon as next month — leaving millions of Californians without food assistance.
“We’re in a really uncertain time here in our community,” said Kevin Buffalino of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
As of June, more than 5.5 million Californians were enrolled in CalFresh. But according to ABC News, federal funding for food assistance could run out nationwide in November if the shutdown continues.
“Their stamps — they’re running out of dollars on their cards and everything,” said Simon Yeh, executive director of South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet.
That means food banks may soon shoulder the full burden.
“It means the burden will be placed on the food banks and pantries — really all hunger-relief organizations,” said Casey Castillo, CEO of The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
In San Diego, Castillo says the impact will be even more widespread. The county has a large number of active-duty military personnel and federal workers, many of whom are missing paychecks during the shutdown.
“Likely meaning tens of thousands of people coming to the food bank,” Castillo said.
The problem, advocates say, is that demand is increasing — but supply isn’t.
Food banks rely heavily on federal funding and food shipments. If the shutdown drags on, even those supply chains could slow.
“And if the shutdown continues, we’re kind of unsure what those food sources will look like as well,” Buffalino said.
The shortage is already showing up in distribution numbers.
“In one of our programs, last year folks were receiving about 16 items in their bag of food. Now, that is down to 10 items,” Castillo said.
With the holidays approaching, local pantries like South Sacramento Interfaith say they’re trying to stretch what they have.
“We’re their bridge until they get back on their feet again,” Yeh said.
In a statement Thursday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom criticized former President Donald Trump, saying, “Trump’s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people’s lives and making basic needs like food more expensive — as the holidays arrive.”
Newsom also noted if President Trump and Congress do not end the shutdown by October 23, or take action to fund benefits, November delays to CalFresh benefits will likely become reality.
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