FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Food banks in the Central Valley are under pressure to provide as many Californians remain without their SNAP benefits Saturday.
Although the USDA is once again funding SNAP, not all EBT accounts have received their monthly funds. As a result, many recipients in California are relying on food pantries to meet their weekly grocery needs.
The Director of Development at the Merced County Food Bank, Joseph Hypes, said he has worked there for seven years. Like many, he called the effect of the government shutdown on food benefits unprecedented.
“The last couple of weeks have been some of the busiest times for us here at the food bank with everything going on; probably even since COVID, or some of the flooding,” he said.
Hypes said he understands the need, but the food bank can only help so much.
“Back in the day, you could walk away with like four, five bags of groceries. But now that same, you know, four, five bags is two. Right? And it’s just so hard for people right now. And they need as much help as they can get,” he said.
Due to the heightened need, the food bank is asking for the community’s help. In collaboration with Merced’s local government, it has set up multiple food drop-off sites for donations, which are listed on the its website.
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