As SNAP and CalFresh beneficiaries Wednesday continued to desperately hope for the resumption of food benefits amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a nonprofit Wednesday turned itself into a food pantry while a Los Angeles woman used her Little Free Library to give away free food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The YMCA in Boyle Heights Wednesday distributed food as dozens of people filled the parking lot to receive the extra support they needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is expensive \u2013 rent, mortgages, the bills, car payments,\u201d Eric Lopez, a YMCA member, said. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough with the income that I\u2019m making. This helps me big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Y said food distribution is open to even those who are not official SNAP or CalFresh recipients.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have no stamp, I don\u2019t have no pension, I don\u2019t have anything. For me, it\u2019s a blessing,\u201d Guadalupe Benitez said as she picked up fresh vegetables.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The YMCA, which expanded its food pantry program to 28 of its centers in LA County, said it plans to host distribution events every week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe recognize that it\u2019s not just people that are in need. It\u2019s your regular families. Middle Class families. They are also looking at how they\u2019re going to feed their family because groceries have gone up,\u201d said Brenda Hernandez, executive director of the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA.<\/p>\n
State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez said his office fought to secure $7.5 million to the YMCA Los Angeles to make sure food distribution programs are supported during times of need.\u00a0<\/p>\n