The beneficiaries of CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), were beginning to receive their funds from the state while it still remained unclear when the federal government would begin to resume providing food benefits.
The funds loaded onto CalFresh users’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards were for the first week of November. And the state expects to issue the benefits for the rest of the month as scheduled for 5.5 million California SNAP recipients, the governor’s office said Thursday evening.
“California will continue fighting to ensure that our families can access the food they need and deserve,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “As President Trump continues to create harm through self-inflicted wounds on our country, we will keep protecting Americans who are caught in the crossfire. I am pleased at the court ruling and that those food benefits are now beginning to flow back to California families.”
Local jurisdictions, including Orange County, acknowledged that it’s the state that is issuing the full benefit amounts.
While SNAP benefits are federally funded, the state of California initiated the benefit disbursement process Thursday, according to the California Department of Social Services.
“Consistent with the recent court order directing the Trump Administration to provide full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, California took steps to enable those benefits,” the social services department said in a statement. “The fiscal intermediary will be reimbursed by the federal government.”
It’s not clear when food benefits from the federal government would become available across the country. While the Trump administration told states Friday that it will immediately begin funding SNAP benefits in full as it appeals a federal judge’s order to do so, it was not clear when the funds would become available.
As the longest federal government shutdown continued Friday, countless Californians have been showing up to food pantries and food distribution events this week.
For one, when a Long Beach catholic church hosted a food distribution event Thursday, a line of people, including dozens of families clutching wagons and chairs, wrapped around the block.
The church eventually ran out of food as many left empty-handed. One family, who had to walk away without food, picked fruit from trees growing in the churchyard.
For those who haven’t seen their full ]benefits, food distribution events and programs were expected to continue throughout Southern California.
Food pantries
Although local food pantries and food banks have said they are running out of supplies quickly, families can call 211 or visit here to find nearest food banks to receive non-perishable food assistance with no questions asked.
Los Angeles County says it has a network of 940 food pantries in place, coordinated by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
LA County free meal services
LA County is offering free meals at county parks to anyone regardless of income.
There are also other free dinner and snack programs for teenagers and younger children.
The teen supper program is available at 16 parks. Registration is required to receive assistance at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The youth snack program, which offers snacks to children of all ages, is available at 48 LA County parks between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Seniors can also receive free meals at nine parks through senior nutrition program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
See here for locations and details.
LAUSD food services
As California requires public schools to provide two free meals to every student, families can feed their children breakfast and lunch for free Monday through Friday.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has also announced most LAUSD schools will now be offering cooked dinner will be available, starting on Nov. 1. The district estimates students from more than 270,000 families rely on food benefits.
See here for a new website launched by the LAUSD to outline the food-distribution program and other assistance efforts available to families.
Senior meal programs
For homebound seniors, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels said it plans to continue delivering over 3,000 warm meals a day. Call 213-484-7775 for more information.
Meals on Wheels of West Los Angeles also delivers prepared food to older Angelenos in the following zip codes: 90024, 90025, 90049, 90073, 90077, and parts of 90210, 90211, 90034, 90035, and 90064. Inquiries can be made at (310) 208 4028.
LA County also offers its own meal delivery service for seniors. Inquiries can be made at 1-800-510-2020.
Others
DoorDash, a food delivery platform company, said it’s delivering 1 million free meals through food banks.
SNAP recipients will also get their fees waived for grocery orders, the company said.
The company also pledges to donate fresh food to local food banks in affected communities.
Also the YMCA is holding weekly food distribution events in the greater Los Angeles area. See here for the event locations and times.
