{"id":104920,"date":"2025-12-22T14:17:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/104920\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T14:17:11","slug":"food-banks-warn-of-increased-hunger-in-orange-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/104920\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Banks Warn of Increased Hunger in Orange County"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scores of families across Orange County are continuing to grapple with hunger and poverty this holiday season as the need for food assistance remains critically high across the region.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a situation food bank leaders say will only worsen with the expected impacts of President Donald Trump\u2019s Big Beautiful Bill or H.R.1. signed into law earlier this year that includes $4.5 billion worth of cuts annually to the CalFresh food assistance program.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the new year, local social services officials, CalOptima representatives and food bank leaders warned of upcoming drastic cuts and changes to the CalFresh program and Medi-Cal health insurance program expected to make it harder for families to stay healthy and fed.<\/p>\n

[Read: OC\u2019s Poorest Brace For Cuts to Food Stamps and Health Insurance This Thanksgiving<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, food bank leaders said the need for food will only rise in the new year without legislative efforts to reverse the cuts to the federal food assistance program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have seen it rise over the course of the last year. These cuts that we see coming forward in 2026 we believe will translate into an even higher need than we\u2019re seeing right now,\u201d said Second Harvest Food Bank of OC CEO Claudia Bonilla Keller in an interview.<\/p>\n

\"\"People wait in line at the Seva Collective Food Distribution on Nov. 22, 2025. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

Mark Lowry, OC Food Bank director, said the cuts and changes means people will resort to using the money they need to pay their bills, rent, healthcare and transportation on food instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a domino effect, those dollars that are no longer available for the gas bill, the electric bill, the water bill, the phone bill, the rent, the auto insurance, the gasoline, the copay for the prescription is now no longer available,\u201d he said in an interview.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be predictable that we might see an increase in disconnect notices for utilities, eviction notices.\u201d<\/p>\n

As of August, over 309,000 people in Orange County \u2013 roughly 10% of residents \u2013 are enrolled in the CalFresh food assistance program, according to the California Department of Social Services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Roughly 900,000 people are enrolled in CalOptima, the county-run Medi-Cal program for OC\u2019s neediest residents. That\u2019s 29% of the county\u2019s roughly 3.1 million residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The upcoming changes to the CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs aren\u2019t the only hurdles the food banks and their network of pantries have had to address this year.<\/p>\n

Widespread deportation sweeps have sparked grass roots efforts to feed families too scared to go to the store or work.<\/p>\n

Food banks, pantries and nonprofit leaders have adjusted their models to help immigrant families put food on the table amid the raids.<\/p>\n

[Read: Feeding Orange County Families Amid a Federal Immigration Crackdown<\/a>]<\/p>\n

\"\"Credit: JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC<\/p>\n

A prolonged government shutdown also interrupted the CalFresh food stamp program this fall.<\/p>\n

[Read: Orange County Grapples With Loss of Food and Housing Benefits as Shutdown Drags On<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Lowry said during the shutdown that requests for emergency food assistance to 211OC \u2013 the county\u2019s information referral line \u2013 grew nearly 500% from one weekend to the next.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a hint of things to come,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, we know that there are several populations that are scheduled to lose their CalFresh benefits or have those reduced in the new year.\u201d<\/p>\n

For food assistance options, visit 211 OC<\/a><\/p>\n

Keller said the county\u2019s food banks can\u2019t cover the need currently filled by the CalFresh program.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter what we do, it\u2019s simply not enough. For every meal that we provide. A program like CalFresh provides nine,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a limit to what we can do and we certainly will try to do more of what we already do, but we cannot cover the entire need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lowry points to proposed legislation like \u201cRestoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025\u2033 aimed at reversing the cuts to the federal food assistance program as the only real resolution to quelling the expected rise in food insecurity.<\/p>\n

\u201cFailure is not an option,\u201d he said \u201cThe only thing that truly addresses this, that\u2019s a right sized response is what some people have already done, repeal, litigate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.<\/p>\n

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