Calfresh Food Benefit Delay from Government Shutdown | SLO Food Bank CalFresh
CalFresh recipients
could miss out on November payments in the short term as the
federal government shutdown continues
Governor Newsom announced that the government shutdown will likely delay
food benefits
for millions of Californians who use CalFresh cards for food.
If Congress does not reopen the federal government by October 23, or take action to fund the benefits, CalFresh benefits would likely be delayed until November.
Cal Fresh Basics
What is CalFresh?
CalFresh is a program that provides money on a monthly basis to people experiencing food insecurity.
How is it different than SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and CalFresh are the same program. SNAP is the federal food assistance program, and CalFresh is the specific name used for that program in California.
Where can it be spent?
CalFresh can be used at most grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Some households can use benefits at participating restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Programs.
More information is available here.
WIC Basics
Although CalFresh benefits are currently delayed, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits remain fully available. Families who are pregnant or have children under age five can enroll quickly and start receiving food benefits.
HOW TO APPLY FOR WIC
Families can apply for WIC online, by phone, or by text:
Online:
slocounty.gov/WIC
Phone:
805-781-5570
Text:
888-417-6180
Walk-in
– visit any of our
WIC office locations
What is WIC?
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) helps families during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood (up to age 5) by providing funds for groceries on an EBT card, plus nutrition and breastfeeding support and referrals to healthcare and community resources.
Food Access
Where can I get food if my benefits are delayed?
Find food near you using the S
LO Food Bank’s Food Resource Map at
findfoodslo.org
or by calling
805-238-4664
. You can find
videos in Spanish and English
about how to access our neighborhood food distributions on YouTube
here
How do I know if something changes?
Please follow the SLO Food Bank on
, and
. Sign up for emails by filling out the Get Email Updates form on the front page of slofoodbank.org.
Community Impact
What does a delay mean for SLO County?
Each month, more than
$6 million in benefits are distributed to 30,000+
local individuals who use it to purchase food from local grocery stores and farmer’s markets. Approximately 56% of SLO County CalFresh recipients also turn to the SLO Food Bank’s Hunger relief network as CalFresh is not enough to purchase the food they need in a month.
How is the SLO Food Bank preparing for additional need?
Starting November 2, the SLO Food Bank will be significantly increasing the capacity of our Neighborhood Food Distributions and providing additional nutritious food to our Agency partners who are able to serve more people. We are also working with our partners at the County of San Luis Obispo, to ensure that our neighbors who are impacted by this delay are aware of the additional resources.
Take Action
What can I do to help?
Inform Your Networks
Please encourage your neighbors and network to use the SLO Food Bank’s Food Resource Map at
findfoodslo.org
or by calling
805-238-4664
to learn where they can conveniently get nutritious food. Please share the SLO Food Bank’s posts on
, and
Donate Now
The SLO Food Bank could be serving thousands of additional neighbors due to the delay in CalFresh benefits. Your donation funds nutritious food and services during a time of critical need.
Donate here today.
Sign up to Volunteer
Additional volunteer support will be needed at the SLO Food Bank’s
neighborhood food distributions
and
warehouse
Sign up here today.
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