REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Four years after a break-in robbed her of nearly everything she owned, Cynthia Bell Whittle is still trying to recover. She has buried her son, took in his two young children and now stretches $152 a month in food aid to feed them — a sum that vanishes long before the month ends.
“At best,” she said, “I have $3 in my account.” Soon, she may have even less.
Today, San Mateo County supervisors stood with leaders of local nonprofit organizations to warn that the federal shutdown could halt food and other benefits for thousands of families, including Bell Whittle’s.
They called on the community to rally around local food banks and assistance programs to try to fill in the gaps so no local residents go hungry.
“The federal government shutdown is about to hit locally, depriving families of food they need to survive,” Supervisor Jackie Speier said.
“San Mateo County stands ready to do everything it can to support residents, but without federal resources in the long run, we are facing a severe food security crisis, even in one of the richest counties in the country,” Speier said.
Earlier today, the Board of Supervisors approved nearly $900,000 to shore up the local safety net. The funds will help a network of Core Services Agencies purchase and distribute food over the next year.
Officials said nearly 35,000 San Mateo County recipients of the CalFresh food assistance program, California’s version of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, could lose their benefits as early as next month. Every month in San Mateo County alone, approximately $6.5 million in benefits are distributed through CalFresh.
“We must come together as a community to support our neighbors,” said Claire Cunningham, San Mateo County’s Director of the Human Services Agency. “If the shutdown continues, our safety net partners will take on an even heavier load of trying to keep healthy food on people’s tables. I encourage everyone to support your local food bank or one of our trusted community partners.”
Proposed changes in H.R. 1 would impact CalFresh. The bill would expand work requirements for adults, and narrow eligibility for some immigrant households, while shifting more administrative costs to state and county governments. Together, these changes could cause thousands of residents to lose food assistance or see reduced benefits, increasing pressure on local food banks, pantries, and safety net programs at a time when need is already growing.
HOW TO HELP
San Mateo County residents can access help, volunteer their time, or support local food programs by visiting Human Services Agency’s website for a list of Core Services Agencies. Free food is also available through Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to anyone in need.
Paul Laustsen
Human Services Agency
plaustsen@smcgov.org