The resource \u2013 known nationally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP \u2013 isn\u2019t dead. Food money could return when the federal government resumes or if Congress passes a spending carveout to help the roughly 42 million Americans who use federal dollars to eat.<\/p>\n
But, locally, even a temporary closure of CalFresh will push a flood of hungry people toward free food providers, a countywide network of roughly 600 food pantries and food banks. Food, after all, isn\u2019t a negotiable need.<\/p>\n
And since local food providers already help about 700,000 people a month (including many who also use CalFresh), the expected extra demand represents a potentially huge hurdle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t be easy,\u201d said Claudia Bonilla Keller, chief executive of Second Harvest Food Bank<\/a>, which collects and grows food and distributes it to some 380 pantries and other outlets.<\/p>\n \u201cBut our job is to feed people who need it, full stop,\u201d she added. \u201cSo that\u2019s what we will do.\u201d<\/p>\n But the expected interruption at CalFresh also is an example of what is widely viewed as a shift in direction, if not attitude.<\/p>\n Food aid has been a staple of the federal government since at least 1939, when Washington started sending money to help poor people eat and to farmers who feed them. The shutdown notice sent out this month is the first in the program\u2019s history.<\/p>\n And it might not be the last.<\/p>\n Federal assistance for basic safety net items \u2013 food, health care and housing \u2013 will be reduced under rules passed this year in the federal spending package known as the Big Beautiful Bill.<\/p>\n Though the changes are complex and will kick in over the next two years (tax cuts earlier; spending cuts after the next two national elections), some of the broad contours are simple and, in some cases, immediate \u2013 less money and tougher restrictions for programs that help the poor.<\/p>\n The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the bottom 10% of American earners will lose roughly $1,200 a year in cuts to government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the top 10% will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts.<\/p>\n For nonprofits, those changes represent a potentially new era. The type of need shift expected to play out as CalFresh goes dark hints at what might be the new normal in coming years.<\/p>\n With that in mind, we asked the leaders of several local nonprofits what they see happening \u2013 particularly in the area of nutrition \u2013 in 2026 and beyond.<\/p>\n We got responses from Second Harvest\u2019s Bonilla Keller; Gregory Scott, president and CEO of Community Action Partnership of OC (CAP OC)<\/a>, which runs the Orange County Food Bank<\/a> and other programs; Mike Learakos, CEO of Abound Food Care<\/a>, which helps nonprofit food networks get excess food from restaurants, groceries and others; and LaVal Brewer, CEO of South County Outreach<\/a>, which provides food and financial services to people in need in southern Orange County.<\/p>\n None whined. A few noted that new tax cuts could lead to more donations, though all said the nonprofit sector can\u2019t come close to matching what is being cut from the federal budget. And all expressed a wariness about what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n Here are some of their answers, edited for length:<\/p>\n What\u2019s the best-case scenario for your organization next year? Worst-case? Why?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cThe best-case scenario for CAP OC is that funding remains stable or, ideally, increases to meet the growing need across Orange County. While this is not the pandemic, it feels very similar. \u2026 Inflation has pushed more families into crisis, and the demand for food, rental assistance and energy support remains high.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the best scenario, available resources would finally align with the level of need in our community.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst-case scenario is that funding cuts continue or become even deeper. If major programs such as Medicaid or CalFresh face additional reductions, families will struggle even more, and CAP OC could be forced to make difficult operational decisions, including layoffs or scaling back essential services.\u201d<\/p>\n Learakos: \u201cThe best-case scenario is that the current situation and the uncertainty that surrounds us finally leads to an understanding that our charitable and relief food system is not resilient enough to handle the need.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst-case scenario is not only an interruption or delay in food assistance\u2026 but it\u2019s\u00a0 a scenario in which we go right back to \u2018business as usual;\u2019 back to trying to \u2018feed and fund\u2019 our way out of poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonilla Keller: \u201cWe\u2019re finishing the year in good financial shape, which, given everything that\u2019s happened this year, is excellent. If we can continue that for next year \u2013 and meet our mission \u2013 that would be the best case.<\/p>\n \u201cThe worst case is that we finish in a deficit. I don\u2019t ever say cut back services, but we will have to get creative, and to steward the money and donations we get as well as we always have.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going into 2026 with a lot of uncertainty. And it\u2019s not just us. The legislation that\u2019s been passed could mean more uncertainty for people with food insecurity.\u201d<\/p>\n Brewer: \u201cThe best-case scenario is that we don\u2019t see any further reduction in government funding \u2014 beyond the current cuts (e.g., to SNAP) \u2014 that can cause disruptions in service. If the level of funding remains the same as this year, and our fundraising continues apace, we can serve the same number of people we are currently serving.\u201d<\/p>\n The new federal budget bill doesn\u2019t immediately cut SNAP or Medicaid (MediCal in California), but it does impose tighter rules related to citizenship and work requirements, among other things. As those rules kick in (over the next 11-plus months), what will they mean for the people your organization helps?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cIf these rules move forward, they will hit the working poor the hardest. There are moments in life when people face gaps in employment, whether from reduced hours, caregiving, illness, or layoffs. These new requirements could cause families to lose healthcare or food assistance at the very moments they need them most.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 The challenge will be finding steady work or volunteer placements quickly enough to keep food on the table, and many will inevitably turn to community food programs already stretched thin.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonilla Keller: \u201cDocumentation status has not affected the emergency food system in Orange County, at least not yet. The reality is we feed hungry people. That is our position. If you\u2019re not going to qualify to get SNAP benefits, that\u2019s not really connected to us. We feed people. All people.\u201d<\/p>\n What message, if any, are you sharing with clients (and donors and employees) regarding 2026?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cThere is a lot of fear heading into next year, including concerns about funding, jobs, immigration, and stability. Our goal is to help people navigate that uncertainty through education and empowerment.<\/p>\n \u201cFor donors and partners, we are emphasizing how essential their support is. Federal funds may fluctuate, but private donors and community advocates can help fill the gaps. \u2026 We are sharing real stories that show how generosity translates to stability for families facing hardship.<\/p>\n \u201cFor staff, we are focused on maintaining morale and reinforcing our shared mission to be a constant source of hope and stability when everything else feels uncertain.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonilla Keller: \u201cWe don\u2019t serve clients directly; we serve pantry operators. And, given what\u2019s happening this weekend and beyond, we\u2019re telling (pantry operators) that you could see an influx of folk.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get through the end of \u201925 before we have a message for next year. And next year could be very uncertain, for a lot of different reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the lesser-discussed details of the new budget affect student loans. Specifically, there are new caps on how much students can borrow and new rules that wipe out hardship exemptions and revive pre-Biden-era school loan repayment rules. Given that food pantries exist on every college campus in Orange County, will those changes create more food insecurity?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cCapping how much students can borrow and removing hardship exemptions (for loan repayments) will likely worsen food insecurity among college students. Many are already struggling to afford tuition, books, housing, and basic necessities. If they are forced to cover more costs out of pocket, there will be even less money left for essentials like food.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonilla Keller: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n There are several changes to tax rules that might benefit parents and moderate-income people in Orange County \u2013 a temporary bump in SALT deductions, bigger standard deductions, bigger child tax credits, a $6,000 permanent deduction for people age 65 and older. Could those result in more donations to nonprofits?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cThese changes will not have a direct impact on CAP OC\u2019s operations but could indirectly influence both the families we serve and donor behavior.<\/p>\n \u201cFor some households, higher child tax credits or standard deductions may offer short-term relief, helping them keep food on the table. On the donor side, these adjustments could encourage increased charitable giving.<\/p>\n Bonilla Kellar: \u201cI think so! Our food bank enjoys such a wide range of folk who support us, from people able to make large gifts, and others who can send us $10 a month, to everybody in between. If the tax benefits enable them to give more, that would be wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of fear in the air \u2013 fear of speaking out, fear of being swept up in ICE raids, etc. How is that affecting your clients?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cFear has become one of the biggest barriers to accessing help. Families are afraid of being exposed when they seek food or rental assistance. We have seen participation at some food distributions decline even as need continues to rise, especially in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. Parents are skipping appointments for diapers or utilities because they do not want their names recorded.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you afraid? Could your organization be targeted \u2013 by the IRS or other federal agencies \u2013 because of the work you do?<\/p>\n Scott: \u201cNot afraid, but vigilant. Advocacy can make people uncomfortable, yet CAP OC operates with full transparency, board oversight, and regular audits. We are proudly nonpartisan and work with both sides of the aisle to ensure families have access to food, housing, and hope\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe lead with integrity, and that has earned us credibility across political lines.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonilla Kellar: \u201cNo. Regardless of what side of the aisle you\u2019re on, politically, everybody agrees that everybody needs to eat. Hunger has historically been a non-partisan issue and we\u2019re a non-partisan organization.<\/p>\n \u201cI do fear for people in our community who are experiencing hunger, no matter who they are. I fear for college students; young kids who can\u2019t get enough to eat; our seniors. The only fear I have is that we\u2019re not meeting those needs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis period feels very pandemic-y. There\u2019s so much in the air. We\u2019ll probably see some new people next year, needing food for the first time. I fear that.\u201d<\/p>\n What else should be asked?<\/p>\n Brewer: \u201cYou didn\u2019t ask how the current developments arising from the federal shutdown \u2014 which is expected to eliminate SNAP benefits for the month of November 2025, at least \u2014 impact those needing support\u2026.<\/p>\n \u201cSouth County Outreach is financially and operationally strong, and so far, we\u2019ve never had to turn anyone away. But if demand continues to rise, we may have to reduce the amount of food provided per client. That would place additional strain on families, forcing them to visit multiple food pantries, many of which may not be equipped to handle the increased volume.<\/p>\n \u201cOur mission is simple: No one in Orange County should go hungry. Yet without SNAP benefits, many of our neighbors will face real hardship, including going to bed hungry. Poverty in our region is well-hidden, but it\u2019s very real. As a community, we need to decide what kind of world we want to live in, because we should never accept one where our neighbors are hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n Claudia Bonilla Keller is the CEO of Second Harvest Food in Irvine, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n Gregory Scott, president and CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County, holds a sign declaring his intentions during an Anti-Poverty Summit at UC Irvine in Irvine, CA on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n LaVal Brewer, president & CEO of South County Outreach, in Irvine, CA, on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Brewer oversees South County Outreach, a nonprofit that helps feed and house people in Orange County. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n Mike Learakos \u2014The CEO of Abound Food Care, a nonprofit that collects charitable food from restaurants, groceries and farms. (Courtesy of California Food Recovery Coalition)\n<\/p>\n Show Caption<\/p>\n 1 of 4<\/p>\n Claudia Bonilla Keller is the CEO of Second Harvest Food in Irvine, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register\/SCNG)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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