Long Beach State students, campus resources brace for SNAP benefits shortage

Beach Pantry volunteers sort papayas and other produce on Nov. 4. Students relying on SNAP can receive food and other resources available during the government shutdown. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a fundamental resource that provides food stamps to 42 million Americans, has ceased dispersal since the government first shut down on Oct. 1.

On Monday, Nov. 3, President Trump told a Rhode Island federal judge he plans to restore 50% of the normal amount of SNAP benefits by tapping into billions of dollars in contingency funds.

In response to a court order against him for withholding SNAP benefits, Trump opted for partial funding in the form of using the $4.65 billion left in the Congress-appropriated SNAP fund.

Since it is unclear when the benefits will begin to be paid out by individual states, students at Long Beach State are nervously awaiting the assistance they signed up to receive.

“The SNAP delays will significantly worsen food insecurity among college students,” said Danielle Muñoz-Channel, director of Basic Needs and Crisis Assistance & Resource Education Support at CSULB. “[It is] forcing many to choose between buying food and paying for educational costs, which can negatively impact their health and academic success.”

SNAP benefits are especially important for students like third-year accounting major Jay Pham, who was homeless from October 2024 until September 2025, using her EBT card to feed herself and her siblings.

Due to her lack of a physical address, Pham struggled to apply for SNAP until mid-2025 since SNAP’s primary form of contact is through the mail. 

“Receiving SNAP benefits gave me a lot of relief knowing that if nothing else, I at least would get to eat,” Pham said.

Her food security proved to be short-lived.

Pham, who works 35 hours a week, expressed concern about needing to ration the benefits left on her EBT card should the shutdown go beyond the end of November.

“If this shutdown goes beyond that, I don’t know where I’ll get money for me and my siblings to eat,” she said. “That uncertainty, on top of everything else, leaves me extremely stressed.” 

The Basic Needs program at CSULB is located in Room 127 on the first floor of Peterson Hall and welcomes all students who need access to essential resources.

CalFresh recipients whose SNAP benefits are delayed can visit Basic Needs and receive meal swipes for the school dining hall, with documentation required.

“These delays exacerbate the challenges students already face with complex eligibility rules and high costs of living,” Muñoz-Channel said. “Health and well-being [are] our priority in basic needs.”

First year pre-criminology major Izabella Espinoza and her mother pick up a bag of broccoli available at the Laurén Chalmers ’83 Beach Pantry on Nov. 4. Pantries across the country are now in full swing due to SNAP benefits delayed by the government shutdown. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current

Another on-campus resource is the Laurén Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry, located behind the Student Health Services building on the ground floor, displaced due to the University Student Union construction.

“Our goal is to support our students as best as possible and supply foods that they can make a meal with,” Alison Curd, third-year nursing major and student assistant at the Beach Pantry, said. “Bring your own bag – all we need is your student ID number.”

The Beach Pantry relies on individual donations, but also receives supplies from food rescue nonprofits, including Food Finders, Student LunchBox and other major food banks.

The SNAP delay has brought new students into the Beach Pantry, prompting the staff to reach out to past donors with a sense of urgency that meets the current situation.

“We’re doing our best to really try to get the word out earlier,” Curd said. “Any potential local bakeries and supermarkets who might want to be involved, and are able to support.”

The Beach Pantry receives no demographic information on its visitors.

“When the Beach Pantry opened in 2016, we did not want to create a stigma where students coming in were revealed as more in need than their classmates,” Assistant Director of Beach Pantry Christina Limon said.

“Our initiative is to provide food for students, regardless of your background or what time you come to visit,” Curd said. “We are here for students on all ends of the food insecurity spectrum.”

The Beach Pantry is open for donations Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and donors can drop supplies off in parking lot G3. Calling ahead is appreciated.

“Approximately 4,000 students at CSULB could be impacted by SNAP delays,” Muñoz-Channel said. “We want every student to know we will continue to share as much information as we can about where students can go for help during this time.”