The federal shutdown has become a problematic reality for nearly 5.5 million Californians relying on CalFresh benefits, and the timing couldn’t be worse—with holiday shopping just around the corner. As it stands, if the feds don’t work out their differences by November 1st, folks might find those much-needed funds missing from their EBT cards. Talk about a classic bait and switch, huh?
Food banks are bracing themselves for an avalanche of need, especially in counties like Sacramento, where around 250,000 residents depend on these benefits just to keep food on the table. River City Food Bank’s Amy Dierlam voiced the fear that all walks of life—from college students to the homeless—will feel the bite of this shutdown, and let’s be honest: nobody enjoys waiting in long lines for a meal. If that’s what Thanksgiving has in store, it might be time to stash those stretchy pants away!
Local organizations are urging residents to reach out for assistance, but in a state of high demand, places like the Stockton Food Bank are already operating at full capacity. So next time you see those grocery store shelves stocked high, remember, not everyone can afford that organic kale salad. Maybe we should start a GoFundMe for those 5-pound bags of rice! What do you think—we can either step up or step back as a community during these tough times?
